Saturday, 19 March 2016

World Poetry Day 2016, March 21

 
 
 
 

Shakespeare, who died 400 years ago, wrote in A Midsummer Night's Dream that: “The poet’s eye, in fine frenzy rolling, doth glance from heaven to Earth, from Earth to heaven. And as imagination bodies forth the forms of things unknown, the poet’s pen turns them to shapes and gives to airy nothing a local habitation and a name”.
By paying tribute to the men and women whose only instrument is free speech, who imagine and act, UNESCO recognizes in poetry its value as a symbol of the human spirit’s creativity. By giving form and words to that which has none – such as the unfathomable beauty that surrounds us, the immense suffering and misery of the world – poetry contributes to the expansion of our common humanity, helping to increase its strength, solidarity and self-awareness.
The voices that carry poetry help to promote linguistic diversity and freedom of expression. They participate in the global effort towards artistic education and the dissemination of culture. The first word of a poem sometimes suffices to regain confidence in the face of adversity, to find the path of hope in the face of barbarity. In the age of automation and the immediacy of modern life, poetry also opens a space for the freedom and adventure inherent in human dignity. From Korean Arirang to Mexican Pirekua, the Hudhud chants of the Ifugao people, Saudi Arabian Alardah, Turkmen Koroghlu and Kyrgyz Aitysh, each culture has its poetic art that it uses to transmit knowledge, socio-cultural values and collective memory, which strengthen mutual respect, social cohesion and the search for peace.
Today, I applaud the practitioners, actors, storytellers and all those anonymous voices committed to and through poetry, giving readings in the shadows or in the spotlights, in gardens or streets. I call upon all Member States to support this poetic effort, which has the power to bring us together, regardless of origins or beliefs, by that which is at the very core of humanity.

 
 
One of the main objectives of the Day is to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and to offer endangered languages the opportunity to be heard within their communities.
The observance of World Poetry Day is also meant to encourage a return to the oral tradition of poetry recitals, to promote the teaching of poetry, to restore a dialogue between poetry and the other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting, and to support small publishers and create an attractive image of poetry in the media, so that the art of poetry will no longer be considered an outdated form of art, but one which enables society as a whole to regain and assert its identity.


Pay with a poem: coffee for poetry deal spreads around the globe.



Poetry will become the new currency in coffee outlets around the world for a day as World Poetry Day campaign spreads to 34 countries


Resources :

 

International Day of Nowruz 2016, March 21

 
 

 

I am delighted to offer best wishes for a happy Nowruz to all those celebrating around the world – and to the many others who can benefit from this rich cultural heritage.
Nowruz is an ancient tradition with modern relevance. Its spirit of friendship, solidarity and respect for the natural environment resonates powerfully with the values of the United Nations.
The hundreds of millions of people around the world who observe this holiday represent a vast range of human experience. Their traditions are richly diverse, producing a tapestry of cultural expressions and symbols.
The myriad Nowruz commemorations in our world share a common reverence for the renewal that comes with the Spring Equinox. All people may draw inspiration from this sense of fresh possibility.
Nowruz transcends national borders, religious divides and other differences to unite communities with bonds of goodwill.
Such common purpose can help humanity rise to this moment in history.
We are now in the first year of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, our vision for a life of dignity for all people. This is also the first year of the historic Paris Agreement on climate change, which possesses enormous potential to open a new future.
At the same time, conflict, discrimination and other violations of human rights continue to take an immense toll. We must respond with compassionate action that addresses immediate suffering while tackling root causes. With its focus on good relations, environmental stewardship and lasting peace, Nowruz is an occasion to strengthen our resolve to leave no one behind in our journey to a better future.
Let us enable all people who celebrate Nowruz to celebrate with joy and meaning – and let us spread its essential message of hope and renewal around the world.

Ban Ki-moon

 
 
Every year, men and women in western, central and southern Asia, the Caucasus, the Balkans and other regions come together to celebrate Nowruz, in a festivity marking the new year and the arrival of spring. Inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2009, Nowruz is an outstanding manifestation of how living cultural heritage expresses the way we understand the world and the means by which we shape it for the good of all.
This celebration brings together local traditions, accompanied by rituals that vary from one community to another -- together they embody the shared human aspiration to experience moments of togetherness, solidarity and joy, representing a bridge from the past to the future, an annual commitment renewed to rising generations. At a time when the living traditions of local communities are under increasing pressure, Nowruz is as an invitation to strengthen the roots of reconciliation and intercultural dialogue.
The rich variety of ways in which we celebrate the arrival of spring equinox reminds us of the responsibility we share towards our planet. Nowruz carries a message of renewal in a world of change, and leads us to reflect on the imperative of humanity standing together to protect biodiversity and eco-systems. As countries take forward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Paris Climate Change Agreement, this has never been so important.
On this International Day of Nowruz, I express my best wishes to everyone celebrating, in the hope that we will all be inspired by this message of solidarity and peace.
Irina Bokova
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inscribed in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as a cultural tradition observed by numerous peoples, Nowruz is an ancestral festivity marking the first day of spring and the renewal of nature. It promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families as well as reconciliation and neighbourliness, thus contributing to cultural diversity and friendship among peoples and different communities.

Exhibitions :

Exhibits: Heart of an Empire: Herzfeld's Discovery of Pasargadae
February 13–July 31, 2016
Smithsonian's Freer and Sackler Galleries
...
Located in the dasht-i murghab, or "plain of the water bird," in southwestern Iran, Pasargadae was the first capital of the ancient Achaemenid Persian Empire (circa 540 BCE) and the last resting place of Cyrus the Great. Impressed with its ruins, German archaeologist Ernst Herzfeld (1879–1948) briefly surveyed the site for the first time in 1905. Having completed his PhD thesis on Pasargadae in 1907, he returned in 1923 and 1928 to conduct more extensive excavations.


Heart of an Empire: Herzfeld's Discovery of Pasargadae

Exhibits: Turquoise Mountain: Artists Transforming Afghanistan
March 5, 2016 – January 29, 2017
Smithsonian - Freer Gallery of Art & Arthur M. Sackler Gallery


Turquoise Mountain


Documents :
 

 
The first day of spring

 


World Down Syndrome Day 2016, March 21


 
Theme 2016 : My friends, My community.
2016年主题:我的朋友,我的社区。
Тема 2016: Мои друзья, мое сообщество.
Tema 2016: Mis amigos, mi comunidad.
Thème 2016: Mes amis, ma communauté.
موضوع 2016: أصدقائي، بلدي المجتمع.
 
 
By adopting the ambitious and universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the international community has promised to leave no one behind. This requires empowering children and adults with disabilities, including those with Down syndrome, to contribute to our common future.
Persons with disabilities, including those with Down syndrome, are more than persons in need of assistance; they are agents of change who can drive progress across society – and their voices must be heard as we strive to reach the Sustainable Development Goals.
Toward that end, I recall the words of Pablo Pineda, the actor and writer with Down syndrome. He has called on others with Down syndrome to perceive their own vast capabilities, saying, “They should see themselves as people who can achieve their goals.”
I would add that others in society should similarly appreciate the potential and power of the members of our human family with Down syndrome.
This affirmation should be backed by concrete steps to respect, protect and promote the rights of all persons with disabilities, including those with Down syndrome. I especially call for priority actions to improve opportunities for girls and women with disabilities who often face greater exclusion than boys and men.
On this World Down Syndrome Day, let us resolve to support the autonomy and independence of persons with Down syndrome, including their freedom to make choices, as part of our broader efforts to usher in a life of dignity for all.
Ban Ki-moon

 
 
The campaign “How Do You See Me?”

21 March 2016 marks the 11th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) and each year the voice of people with Down syndrome, and those who live and work with them, grows louder.
Down Syndrome International (DSi)
 
Down Syndrome International encourages our friends all over the world to choose your own activities and events to help raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities.
 
Here are some ways you can join us on 21 March 2016:

• Organise your activities based on DSi’s focus area for 2016 "My Friends, My Community" - The benefits of inclusive environments for today’s children and tomorrow’s adults.
• Share your WDSD World Events on our dedicated WDSD website in a single global meeting place.
• Watch our WDSD Global Video Event, produced each year with the participation of organisations in many countries around the world.
• Attend our WDSD Conference at the United Nations in New York either in person or online, live or on-demand, at UN Web TV.

Down Syndrome International presents a global video journey promoting inclusion of people with Down syndrome. "My Friends, My Community" features interviews with children from around the world talking about their lives, friendships and aspirations. This global video event is presented for World Down Syndrome Day, Monday 21 March 2016.
 

 
 
One of the most famous landmarks in the world, the Empire State Building, is lighting up blue and yellow in honor of World Down Syndrome Day! The lighting will be a stunning reminder to honor and celebrate people with Down syndrome on 21 March. 
 
Lighting in Blue - Empire State Building

 

Friday, 18 March 2016

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2016 , 21 March.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 21 March.
Международный день борьбы за ликвидацию расовой дискриминации, 21 марта.
 اليوم الدولي للقضاء على التمييز العنصري ,21 مارس.


2016 Theme: Challenges and Achievements of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action – 15 years after.
El tema del 2016 es: «Desafíos y logros de la Declaración y Programa de Acción de Durban - 15 años después»
Thème 2016 : « 15 ans après la Déclaration et le programme d'action de Durban : progrès et défis »
2016年主题:《德班宣言和行动纲领》15年:成就与挑战
Тема Дня 2016 года «Дурбанская декларация и Программа действий: вызовы и достижения 15 лет спустя».
 موضوع عام 2016: تحديات إعلان وبرنامج عمل ديربان وإنجازاته بعد مرور 15 سنة



Racism and Racial Discrimination - UNRIC Info Point & Library




Message of the United Nations Secretary-General Message for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2016.

Coming soon.




In 1979, the General Assembly adopted a Programme of activities to be undertaken during the second half of the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (A/RES/34/24).

On this occasion, the General Assembly decided that a week of solidarity with the peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination, beginning on 21 March, would be organized annually in all States.


FORUM : 21 March is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

This year, the International Day is devoted to challenges and achievements of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action – 15 years after the landmark document was adopted at the 2001 World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in South Africa.

On Social Media

Ms. Gay McDougall, Member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, will take questions from the public on Reddit, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. New York time on 21 March 2016



EVENTS : 
 
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2016.


In New York : The President of the General Assembly is convening a meeting to observe the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 18 March 2016 at United Nations Headquarters at 11:00 a.m. The keynote speech will be given by Mr. Ahmed Reid, Member of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. The event will be webcast live on UN Web TV.

 Resources :

 Read the United Nations General Assembly resolution (A/RES/2142 (XXI))


   How to deal with racist people?


how to deal with racist people?

Can there ever be a ‘correct’ response for dealing with racist people?
I’ve collected answers from real people, dos and don’ts they would recommend.
Use this infographic to start a discussion:
  • Introduce the term ‘racism’ and its flavours.
  • Discuss things you can and shouldn’t do when facing racist interaction.
  • Examine statistics about Australian people’s heritage and racist attitudes.


Very little progress in tackling racism and xenophobia around the world” International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - Monday 21 March 2016
 

International Day of Happiness 2016, March 20

International Day of Happiness, 20 March.
Día Internacional de la Felicidad, 20 de marzo.
Journée internationale du bonheur, 20 mars.
国际幸福日, 3月20日.
 Международный день счастья, 20 марта.
  آذار/مارس 20, اليوم الدولي للسعادة



Theme 2016 : Climate Action for a Happy Planet.
 Борьба с изменением климата во имя достижения счастья на планете
 追求幸福是人类的基本目标
 La poursuite du bonheur est un objectif fondamental de l'être humain
 La búsqueda de la felicidad es una meta fundamental
العمل المناخي من أجل كوكب تعُمُّه السعادة




 
This year’s International Day of Happiness is focused on Climate Action for a Happy Planet.
Everyone can be part of our campaign: governments, civic groups, the media and individuals. This year, even cartoon characters have joined in as the United Nations teams up with a group famous for lacking good cheer: the Angry Birds.
These animated ambassadors are helping to raise awareness about the importance of climate action for our common future. You can join them by sharing your own climate actions using the hashtag #AngryBirdsHappyPlanet.
At this time of grave injustices, devastating wars, mass displacement, grinding poverty and other manmade causes of suffering, the International Day of Happiness is a global chance to assert that peace, well-being and joy deserve primacy. It is about more than individual contentment; it is an affirmation that we have a collective responsibility to humanity.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is our plan to realize a life of dignity for all people. By advancing progress towards the interlinked Sustainable Development Goals, we can help spread happiness and secure peace.
The best way to celebrate this International Day of Happiness is by taking action to alleviate suffering. In this spirit, let us use this occasion to renew a global spirit of solidarity to create a safer, more prosperous and more sustainable future for all.
Ban Ki-moon


Support the #AngryBirdsHappyPlanet campaign! Share this card!


Support the #AngryBirdsHappyPlanet campaign! Share this card!


 FORUM :  What is the International Day of Happiness?

 It’s a day to be happy, of course! Since 2013, the United Nations has celebrated the International Day of Happiness as a way to recognise the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world. The UN just launched 17 Sustainable Development Goals that seek to end poverty, reduce inequality, and protect our planet – three key aspects that lead to well-being and happiness.

The United Nations invites each person of any age, plus every classroom, business and government to celebrate the International Day of Happiness each year on March 20.
This year, even cartoon characters have joined in as the United Nations teams up with a group famous for lacking good cheer: the Angry Birds.

These animated ambassadors are helping to raise awareness about the importance of climate action for our common future. You can join them by sharing your own climate actions using the hashtag #AngryBirdsHappyPlanet.



Happiness actions, 5 things to do at home


Happiness actions - 5 things to do at work.


Happiness Action : 5 things to do with friends.
 PUBLICATIONS :

The World Happiness Report was written by a group of independent experts acting in their personal capacities. Any views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization, agency or program of the United Nations.

World Happiness Report 2016.




The World Happiness Report 2016 Update, which ranks 156 countries by their happiness levels, was released in Rome in advance of UN World Happiness Day, March 20th. The widespread interest in the World Happiness Reports, of which this is the fourth, reflects growing global interest in using happiness and subjective well-being as primary indicators of the quality of human development. Because of this growing interest, many governments, communities and organizations are using happiness data, and the results of subjective well-being research, to enable policies that support better lives.


This year, for the first time, the World Happiness Report gives a special role to the measurement and consequences of inequality in the distribution of well-being among countries and regions. In previous reports the editors have argued that happiness provides a better indicator of human welfare than do income, poverty, education, health and good government measured separately. In a parallel way, they now argue that the inequality of well-being provides a broader measure of inequality. They find that people are happier living in societies where there is less inequality of happiness. They also find that happiness inequality has increased significantly (comparing 2012-2015 to 2005-2011) in most countries, in almost all global regions, and for the population of the world as a whole.







World Happiness Report 2015.

 The report is published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network - Youth (SDSN). It is edited by Professor John F. Helliwell, of the University of British Columbia and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research; Lord Richard Layard, Director of the Well-Being Programme at LSE’s Centre for Economic Performance; and Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, Director of the SDSN, and Special Advisor to UN Secretary-General





World Happiness Report 2015.
Documents and Resources

Monday, 7 March 2016

International Women's Day 2016, March 8

International Women's Day, 8 March.
Международный женский день, 8 марта.
国际妇女节, 3月8日.
Journée internationale de la femme, 8 mars.
Día Internacional de la Mujer, 8 de marzo.
اليوم العالمي للمرأة ,8 مارس



Theme 2016 : “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality”.
Thème 2016 : « La parité en 2030 : avancer plus vite vers l'égalité des sexes! »
2016 Тема  : «Планета 50-50 к 2030 году: Мы выступаем за гендерное равенство».
主题 2016 : “2030,男女共擎一片天:为了两性平等,向前一步”
Tema 2016 : «Por un Planeta 50-50 en 2030: Demos el paso para la igualdad de género».
 هو2016  “الإعداد للمساواة بين الجنسين لتناصف الكوكب بحلول 2030.





United Nations Secretary-General Message on the Internation Women's Day 2016.
“From the Glass Ceiling to a Carpet of Shards”
 
As a boy growing up in post-war Korea, I remember asking about a tradition I observed: women going into labour would leave their shoes at the threshold and then look back in fear. “They are wondering if they will ever step into those shoes again,” my mother explained.
More than a half-century later, the memory continues to haunt me. In poor parts of the world today, women still risk death in the process of giving life. Maternal mortality is one of many preventable perils. All too often, female babies are subjected to genital mutilation. Girls are attacked on their way to school. Women’s bodies are used as battlefields in wars. Widows are shunned and impoverished.
We can only address these problems by empowering women as agents of change.
For more than nine years, I have put this philosophy into practice at the United Nations. We have shattered so many glass ceilings we created a carpet of shards. Now we are sweeping away the assumptions and bias of the past so women can advance across new frontiers.
 
I appointed the first-ever female Force Commander of United Nations troops, and pushed women’s representation at the upper levels of our Organization to historic highs.  Women are now leaders at the heart of peace and security – a realm that was once the exclusive province of men. When I arrived at the United Nations, there were no women leading our peace missions in the field. Now, nearly a quarter of all UN missions are headed by women – far from enough but still a vast improvement.
I have signed nearly 150 letters of appointment to women in positions as Assistant Secretary-General or Under-Secretary-General. Some came from top government offices with international renown, others have moved on to leadership positions in their home countries. All helped me prove how often a woman is the best person for a job.
To ensure that this very real progress is lasting, we have built a new framework that holds the entire UN system accountable. Where once gender equality was seen as a laudable idea, now it is a firm policy. Before, gender sensitivity training was optional; now it is mandatory for ever-greater numbers of UN staff. In the past, only a handful of UN budgets tracked resources for gender equality and women’s empowerment; now this is standard for nearly one in three, and counting.
Confucius taught that to put the world in order, we must begin in our own circles. Armed with proof of the value of women leaders at the United Nations, I have spoken out for women’s empowerment everywhere. In speeches at parliaments, universities and street rallies, in private talks with world leaders, in meetings with corporate executives and in tough conversations with powerful men ruling rigidly patriarchal societies, I have insisted on women’s equality and urged measures to achieve it.
When I took office, there were nine parliaments in the world with no women. We helped to drive that number down to four. I launched the UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign in 2008; today, scores of leaders and ministers, hundreds parliamentarians and millions of individuals have added their names to the action call.
I was the first man to sign our HeForShe campaign, and more than a million others have joined since. I stood with activists calling for the abandonment of female genital mutilation and celebrated when the General Assembly adopted its first-ever resolution supporting that goal. I am echoing the calls of many who know women can drive success in achieving our bold 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and advancing the Paris Agreement on climate change.
On this International Women’s Day, I remain outraged by the denial of rights to women and girls – but I take heart from the people everywhere who act on the secure knowledge that women’s empowerment leads to society’s advancement. Let us devote solid funding, courageous advocacy and unbending political will to achieving gender equality around the world. There is no greater investment in our common future.
Ban Ki-moon


Message by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on International Women's Day, March 8, 2016.
This year’s celebration of International Women’s Day is the first within the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are confidently asserted in that Agenda as intrinsic to progress.
The new Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals include a specific goal to achieve gender equality, which aims to end discrimination and violence against women and girls and ensure equal participation and opportunities in all spheres of life. Important provisions for women’s empowerment are also included in most of the other goals.
In conjunction with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, more than 90 governments have answered UN Women’s call for action to “Step It Up for Gender Equality”. Heads of State and Government have pledged concrete and measurable actions to crack some of the fundamental barriers to the achievement of gender equality in their countries.
Unanimously at the 59th Commission on the Status of Women in 2015, governments reaffirmed the Beijing Platform for Action. Businesses large and small are committing to, and implementing, shifts in culture and practice that foster greater equality and opportunity. Women individually, and civil society together, have called for lasting and transformative change by 2030.
With these unprecedented expressions of political will, the countdown to substantive gender equality by 2030 must begin, accompanied and underpinned by monitoring of accountability and evaluation of progress.
We draw strength from this solidarity as we face world events such as severe population displacement, extreme violence against women and girls, and extensive instability and crises in many regions.
To arrive at the future we want, we cannot leave anyone behind. We have to start with those who are the least regarded. These are largely women and girls, although in poor and troubled areas, they can also include boys and men.
Women and girls are critical to finding sustainable solutions to the challenges of poverty, inequality and the recovery of the communities hardest hit by conflicts, disasters and displacements. They are at the frontline of the outbreaks of threatening new epidemics, such as Zika virus disease or the impact of climate change, and at the same time are the bulwark to protect their families, work for peace, and ensure sustainable economic growth and social change.
On International Women’s Day, we reiterate the greater participation of women as one of the necessary conditions for an inclusive Agenda 2030. Their leadership is insufficiently recognized but must emerge with greater participation in decision-making bodies. Each one of us is needed—in our countries, communities, organizations, governments and in the United Nations—to ensure decisive, visible and measurable actions are taken under the banner: Planet 50-50: Step It Up for Gender Equality.
We build on the commitments that have already been made by all governments. We also build on the legacy of determined and vocal participation by the small group of founding women from all parts of the world, who were in San Francisco in 1945 when the UN Charter was adopted. They laid the foundation for all that has followed in the struggle for the fulfilment of women’s rights.
The participation of women at all levels and the strengthening of the women’s movement has never been so critical, working together with boys and men, to empower nations, build stronger economies and healthier societies. It is the key to making Agenda 2030 transformational and inclusive.
Happy International Women’s Day.

 UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka




2015 saw countries across the world agree on the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
For UNESCO, these are a single agenda for advancing human rights and dignity, for eradicating poverty, for protecting the planet.
Promoting gender equality stands at the heart of this agenda, as a basic human right and a transformational force for more just, inclusive and sustainable development. This is why the theme for the 2016 International Women’s Day is ‘Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality.’
Promoting gender equality is a Global Priority guiding all of UNESCO action in education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. These objectives underpin UNESCO’s efforts to widen new opportunities, especially through education, on the basis of such initiatives as the Global Partnership for Girls and Women’s Education, and the activities supported by the Malala Fund for Girls' Right to Education
UNESCO’s work is one of partnership, across the United Nations system, working ever more closely with UN Women, as well as with the private sector, reflected in the longstanding L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science programme, to support girls and women into scientific careers.
We have seen progress across the world – but steep obstacles remain before genuine equality for all girls and women. The new global agenda will succeed only if every country advances the rights, ingenuity and innovation of every one of its citizens, starting with girls and women.
This will be addressed in the 60th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, coming under the theme of ‘Women’s empowerment and the link to sustainable development’. This topic is especially timely in the context of the twenty-year review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the adoption of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Taking this forward means accelerating momentum towards gender equality and the empowerment of every girl and woman. 2016 is a pivotal year, when we must implement a new vision that builds on lessons learned and outlines new actions to tackle new and remaining challenges.
In this spirit, I call on Member States and all partners to join forces to advance gender equality in every society. There is simply no greater force for justice, sustainable development and lasting peace.
Irina Bokova


FORUM : International Women's Day - March 8



Join the conversation: Follow @UN_Women on Twitter and share your messages using the hashtag #IWD2016.

The idea of this theme is to consider how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of the new Sustainable Development Goals, especially goal number five -Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls- and number 4 –Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning. The theme will also focus on new commitments under UN Women’s Step It Up initiative, and other existing commitments on gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s human rights.
Some key targets of the 2030 Agenda:
  • By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and Goal-4 effective learning outcomes.
  • By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and preprimary education so that they are ready for primary education.
  • End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
  • Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
  • Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

EVENTS :

Around the world, UN Women is organizing International Women's Day events in more than 40 countries, including marches, rallies, musical events, sports matches and marathons.

 
Members of the media are invited to the following events in New York:
 
Venue: The Public Theatre, 425 Lafayette St., New York

UN Women’s HeForShe Arts Week will kick-off with an exclusive launch event hosted at the historic Joe’s Pub, at The Public Theatre. Speaking at the event will be Chirlane McCray, First Lady of New York City; Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women; Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director of The Public Theatre; Emma Watson, UN Women Global Goodwill Ambassador; and Forest Whitaker, artist, social activist, SDG advocate and UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace. The event will be centred around a lively discussion on the powerful role arts play in shaping behaviours, norms and perceptions that shape our cultural view of gender. The HeForShe Arts Week will run from 8-15 March 2016, during which time partner institutions will highlight efforts towards achieving gender equality and women’s rights, and support UN Women’s work by donating a percentage of proceeds.
Coinciding with the launch, the Empire State Building will be lit up in the HeForShe magenta colour on 8 March, 2016. More information at http://www.heforsheartsweek.org/


Lighting the Empire State Building on the occasion of the International Women's Day 2016


Join the conversation: Follow @UN_Women on Twitter and share your messages using the hashtags #IWD2016, #HeForShe, #ArtsWeek
Media wishing to attend should RSVP to: tara.mullins[at]ogilvy.com; Ph: +1 646 520 6468
 
 
 
 
United Nations Observance of International Women’s Day 2016, ‘Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality’, Tuesday, 8 March, 10 a.m. to 12.45 p.m.
Venue: Trusteeship Council, United Nations Headquarters, New York
[Event will be webcast live at www.unwomen.org]

The high-profile event will feature eminent speakers from UN Member States, civil society, the private sector and youth offering their reflections on what Planet 50-50 by 2030 means to them. Speakers include: Mogens Lykketoft, President of the 70th Session of the General Assembly; Video Message from Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women; Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of United Arab Emirates; Barbara Adams, Chair, Board of the Global Policy Forum; Tara Nathan, Executive Vice-President, MasterCard; Fatima Ptacek, youth actor; Monica Singh, activist. It will be moderated by Pamela Falk, CBS News, with a musical performance by Tennille Amor. The second part of the event will be moderated by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, who will probe the progress made and challenges remaining to the status of women, with a specific focus on their equal representation and gender mainstreaming in the work of the UN system. Panelists include: Cristina Gallach, UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information; Peter Thomas Drennan, UN Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security; Carole Wainaina, UN Assistant-Secretary-General for Human Resources Management; Saori Terada, Adviser for Gender Integration, Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights; and Drude Dahlerup, Professor of Political Science, Stockholm University.

Event Flyer is available here.

United Nations Observance of International Women’s Day 2016, ‘Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality’


Media wishing to attend should RSVP
[Press covering the International Women’s Day event at the United Nations must have UN press accreditation.


Ring the Bell for Gender Equality, Tuesday 8 March, 9 a.m.
Venue: New York Stock Exchange

In celebration of International Women’s Day, over 35 stock exchanges around the world will join UN Women, the UN Global Compact, IFC, Women in ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds), Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, and the World Federation of Exchanges in ringing their opening or closing bells for gender equality and women’s rights. The series of global events aims to mobilize attention to the intrinsic role of gender equality to business growth and sustainable economic development as well as highlight the opportunities for the private sector to advance women’s economic empowerment. UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri will ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange at 9 a.m.


Closing Bell; Remarks by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Tuesday 8 March, event will begin at 3 p.m., with bell-ringing at 3.30 p.m.
Venue: NASDAQ Marketsite, 4 Times Square, New York City, Entrance on Broadway (between 42nd & 43rd Streets)

A IWD2016 Livestream of the Nasdaq Closing Bell will be available.
To obtain a high-resolution IWD2016 photograph of the Market Close and click on the market close of your choice.

 
 
60th Session of the U.N.Commission on the Status of  Women.
11-24 March 2016

The CSW60 draft agreed conclusions and draft resolution on the multi-year programme of work of the Commission are now available on the CSW60 website.

The calendar of side events has now been published!
The 230 side events of the CSW60 Session have been registered during the 2 weeks
United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
 
 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
 
 
 
Related links:
 

Wednesday, 2 March 2016

World Wildlife Day 2016, March 21

World Wildlife Day, March 3.
Всемирный день дикой природы, 3 марта.
世界野生动植物日, 3月3日.
Día Mundial de la Vida Silvestre, 3 de Marzo.
Journée mondiale de la Vie Sauvage, le 3 Mars.
يوم العالمي للحياة البرية، 3 مارس



Theme 2016 : The Future of wildlife is in our hands.
Тема 2016: Будущее дикой природы в наших руках.
主题2016 : 野生动植物的未来就在我们手中
Tema 2016: El futuro de la vida silvestre está en nuestras manos.
Thème 2016: L'avenir de la faune est dans nos mains.
 موضوع عام 2016: مستقبل الحياة البرية في أيدينا





Calls on Citizens, States, Businesses to Protect Plants, Animals from Exploitation, Trafficking. United Nations,

Global efforts to protect wildlife are gathering force. Last year, United Nations Member States adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, which include specific targets to end poaching. The General Assembly also unanimously agreed a resolution to limit illicit trafficking in wildlife. These powerfu...l expressions of political determination to end these highly destructive crimes are now being translated into actions on the ground through collective efforts by countries around the world.
However, to protect this essential natural heritage for this and future generations, much more needs to be done by key actors on all continents and across sectors. In particular, conservation efforts need to engage communities that live in close proximity with wildlife.
Time is running out to end the poaching crisis that threatens some of the world’s most iconic species. To combat poaching and trafficking of protected species it is essential to address both the demand and supply of illegal wildlife products through agreed goals and targets and international instruments, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
For too long, the world has been witness to heartbreaking images of the mass slaughter of elephants for their tusks. According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the killing of African elephants and trafficking in their ivory remain alarmingly high. Asian elephants are also subject to growing levels of poaching.
Many other species, such as cheetahs, pangolins, rhinos, sea turtles, sharks, tigers, whales and high-value timber, face a variety of different challenges, including from habitat change, overexploitation or illicit trafficking.
On this World Wildlife Day, I call on all citizens, businesses and Governments to play their part in protecting the world’s wild animals and plants. The actions taken by each of us will determine the fate of the world’s wildlife. The future of wildlife is in our hands.

Ban Ki-moon



3rd March is wildlife’s special day on the United Nations calendar.
 
On the occasion of World Wildlife Day last year UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called upon us to “get serious about wildlife crime.” And the global community heeded this call. In 2015 the UN General Assembly adopted a dedicated resolution on tackling illicit trafficking in wildlife and the Sustainable Development Goals, which include specific targets to stop this illicit trafficking.
The current wildlife crisis is not a natural phenomenon – unlike a drought, a flood or a cyclone.  It is the direct result of people’s actions. People are the cause of this serious threat to wildlife and people must be the solution, which also requires us to tackle human greed, ignorance and indifference.  
Wildlife loss threatens our own personal well being, the livelihoods of local communities and, in some cases, even national economies and security. And today we are seeing a global collective effort to end wildlife trafficking. Across every continent governments and citizens are tackling both demand and supply – making wildlife crime much riskier and far less profitable.
Although overall levels of poaching and smuggling remain far too high, we are seeing improvements in some countries and with some wildlife populations. We are beginning to turn the tide on wildlife trafficking – but much still remains to be done – and success, very often, comes down to the actions of committed individuals. That is why this year we are rallying around the theme “the future of wildlife is in our hands.”
The 3rd of March is an opportunity for all of us – no matter who we are or where we are – to commit to securing a sustainable future for wild animals and plants, as well as for ourselves. Our collective success will rely upon the individual actions taken by each one of us – by you and by me.
Join us in celebrating World Wildlife Day 2016!
 
John E. Scanlon, Secretary-General of CITES



 
Poaching and the illegal trade in wildlife have reached unprecedented levels. From 2010 to 2012 alone, over 100,000 elephants were poached in Africa. Some rhino populations face extinction. As few as 3,200 tigers exist in the wild today. The disappearance of individual species threatens biodiversity, and by extension, the life support systems on our planet. Our responsibility is to look after wildlife. World Wildlife Day is a call to become more informed and more involved in stopping this crime against nature, communities and future generations.
 
Achim Steiner, Executive Director


Wildlife and forest crime destroys diversity and hinders sustainable development on our planet. Billions of dollars in profit are made from this crime. In 2015, 1,175 rhinos were poached in South Africa, while Central Africa has now lost 64 per cent of its elephants in less than a decade.
The industrial scale of the killing, the heinous murder of park rangers, the seizures of shipments measured not in kilos, but tons, point to organized crime’s involvement in these acts of unconscionable greed.
If we are to conserve animal and plant species for successive generations, we must take on the criminals and end the impunity often associated with this crime.
To achieve this, an integrated approach is needed to reduce demand and interrupt supply through the seizure of shipments, assets and proceeds.  Help must also be offered to local communities to provide alternative livelihoods, build local enterprises and to empower communities to live in harmony with their surroundings.
Crimes against wildlife and forests must also be viewed as a serious crime to trigger the application of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and to enable greater international cooperation, joint operations and the sharing of information.
The future of wildlife is in our hands, but if we are to be successful against the criminals those hands must be joined in proud partnership and close cooperation.
I welcome the commitment and efforts of Member States, UN agencies, CITES and its partners on behalf of flora and fauna everywhere. We must all work together to translate commitments into meaningful impact on the ground.
On World Wildlife Day, I urge everyone to play their part in protecting our wildlife and forests and in defeating the criminals who threaten this noble goal.
Yury Fedotov, Executive Director, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime






Integral to the balance of nature, wildlife nurtures us with a sense of wonder and serves as a source of inspiration. Wildlife is also the basis of biodiversity. Biodiversity in the wild is just as important to our wellbeing as biodiversity in plants and animals used for human consumption. Wildlife is incremental to forestry, fishery and tourism livelihoods around the world. Quite simply, biodiversity keep ecosystems functional providing the ecosystem services that allow us to survive, get enough food to eat and make a living.
The conservation and sustainable use of wildlife is therefore a critical component of sustainable development, and should be part of a comprehensive approach to achieving poverty eradication, food security and sustainable livelihoods.
Yet despite the clear links between wildlife, sustainable development and human wellbeing, wildlife is under immediate threat. Some of the world’s most charismatic species, as well as lesser known and perhaps less charismatic but ecologically important plants and animals stand at the brink of extinction. Habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, pollution and poaching are among the biggest threats.
This year’s World Wildlife Day theme, “The future of wildlife is in our hands”, celebrates and pays particular focus on African and Asian elephants.   Poaching and trafficking of ivory is one of the most serious immediate threats to African elephants, with Asian elephants subject to growing levels of poaching. As important seed dispersers, the decline of elephants can trigger the extinction of certain plants which could cause declines in other species of wildlife that depend on them.  This poses critical consequences for vital ecological processes, which if left unaddressed could aggravate further socio-ecological pressures and impacts. Therefore attention on this Day should garner efforts in developing strategies to preserve these precious species subjected to illegal trade in the wake of growing known and unknown pressures.
It is no exaggeration to say that wildlife is crucial to the lives of a high proportion of the world's population.  For indigenous people and many local communities and some rural households, local wild animals serve as their source of meat protein and local trees provide their fuel. And both wild animals and plants provide components of traditional medicine used by people throughout the world. But while many people in the developed world may barely notice a reduced supply of a particular household item, people living in the developing world are often entirely dependent on the uninterrupted availability of local wildlife resources.
Every action has a ripple effect. For example, the illegal wildlife trade and the overexploitation of species not only harm species and ecosystems; they affect the livelihoods of indigenous people and local communities and negatively impacts tourist attractions, which in turn compromises efforts towards poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable development.  The overexploitation of species also threatens the planet. Overfishing not only affects individual fishing communities and threatens certain fish species, but causes imbalances in the whole marine system. The careful and thoughtful use of wildlife species and their habitats is required to avoid not only extinctions, but serious disturbances to the complex web of life.
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity as one of 13 members of the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management (CPW) has been raising awareness of various aspects of sustainable wildlife management leveraging tools and fostering international cooperation to enhance the livelihood of local communities and to promote the conservation of ecosystems by private and community holders. A progress report describing the work undertaken by the CPW since the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 12) to the Convention on Biological Diversity will be made for the twentieth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, to be held in April 2016, in Montreal.
At COP 13 this December, Parties will have an opportunity to address sustainable wildlife management as a cross cutting strategic action for mainstreaming biodiversity into sectors including forestry, agriculture, fisheries and tourism.  We would all do well to reflect upon what we can do to safeguard wildlife for the next generation. By conserving and sustainably using species we not only protect the ecosystems and ecosystem services that underlie our economies and well-being, we help millions of people and help save the utterly irreplaceable planet we live on.
 
Convention on Biological Diversity Executive Secretary Dr. Braulio F. de Souza Dias




It is amazing to think that in an age of smartphones, high-speed trains and jetliners, there are still places on this planet where herds of elephants by the hundreds trudge across savannas, and where a silverback and his mountain gorilla family spend their days eating, playing and simply living in a verdant volcanic range. In today’s modern era, these ancient scenes are truly extraordinary. They are also fragile.
Africa’s elephants, rhinos, lions and other species live on a continent and in a world that is rapidly changing. Africa’s population is the fastest growing in the world and also the youngest. The continent is home to some of the world’s fastest growing economies. As the infrastructure is laid to accommodate this change, so the threats to the continent’s wildlife and wild lands heighten. Shrinking and fragmenting habitats, increased human-wildlife conflict, poaching and wildlife trafficking—all of these threats challenge our ability to secure a future for wildlife, in Africa and around the world. It is a challenge I believe we are absolutely capable of overcoming, however.
It is false and frankly short-sighted to assume that in the quest for modernity, we must sacrifice our wildlife. It is possible to have smartphones and elephants, lions and railways, giraffes and high-performing schools. To realize that future, we need political commitments at the highest level to devote adequate resources toward conservation. We must integrate protection of wildlife into national and regional planning to maintain the intactness and integrity of ecosystems and secure our unique natural heritage. We should make responsible stewardship of wildlife and wild lands a meaningful criterion for measuring internal governance and ethical investing.
Yes, we can do this. On World Wildlife Day, it is worth remembering that just as we are endowed with a rich natural heritage, we are also endowed with the tools and the knowledge to protect it. We work toward the day when we can say the future of wildlife is in good hands.

 


 
The future of wildlife is in everybody’s hands, and at African Parks, we have more than 800 rangers who are fighting each and every day and putting their own lives on the frontline to protect Africa’s most threatened species – elephants, rhinos, lions, and gorillas. But it cannot be their fight alone; they are not just protecting their wildlife, they are protecting the world’s wildlife – yours and mine. These are species that inspire us, serve as ecosystem guardians, and their existence can support local economies. They define who we are more than we can possibly know, so it is in their survival where our own precarious future lies.





In a time that the world is in conflict with itself on so many issues and despite our differences and political pressures, we all have a chance to unite our cultures and put aside our differences to stand together for the wildlife that are in need of our help. The World Wildlife Day provides us this unique opportunity. This is the day that binds us together across the earth; our compassion and empathy for our wild animals and plants that have shared this planet with  us for so long. Let us make this our goal. Let us rejoice in their numbers and not only the money that we can make from their ivory, their horns, their trophies and commodities. Let us recognise that the elephants, rhinos, pangolins and lions enrich our lives and give us an identity that makes us proud to be African. Without these things, we are no longer unique. We no longer have something special to offer the world.
We, the people of this generation, are the only ones that can make our children proud of how we responded to the cries for help from our elephants and rhinos, whilst the pangolin and mighty roar of the lions fade into history. Let our children not judge us on how we let these slip through our fingers whilst we fought over oil and money.
What makes us unique? The sunsets of Africa? The beautiful landscapes? Our beaches? NO! Everyone has these things. What we have got, that no one else has got, is the roar of the wild lion, the road blocked by elephants, the clashing of rhino horns at a muddy waterhole, the cry of the hyena and song of the jackal. Were these sounds, smells and sights all just a display of their might, or for our entertainment? Or have we become deaf to their cries for our help?
For so long the lions and elephants and beasts that beat with the rhythm of the African heart, have given  us joy and supprt for living. Now the tables have turned and it is us that need to give back to them. Once we needed them for these things, now they need us!
Join us on World Wildlife Day, take our hands and stand with us to shout out against the poaching of our rhino and elephants and the destruction of our uniqueness. Do not let thepoachers and traffickers take these things away from us and our unborn children! We cannot stand divided on this. We must join our forces. We cannot do this alone and we need your hands!
We cannot win this with guns and bombs. We need the politicians and world leaders to step in and throw their mighty influence at this problem.
United we can win! The future of wildlife is in our hands!

Black Mambas: Champions of the Earth


Seriously friends, World Wildlife Day is coming up on March 3rd and we need to heed the call to action which is that the future of wildlife is in our hands. This is a message of both power and privilege. We know through our work at ISF that when we take on a cause we can use our voices and actions to make a difference. And that is the best form of power. But being the custodians of the awesome and diverse creature landscape that we are so blessed with around the world is pure privilege. Aren't we just better off for knowing  that somewhere out there in our beautiful world elephants, rhinos and all sorts of other weird and wonderful animals are living life as they have for thousands of years! And aren't we worse off for knowing that they are being slaughtered in record numbers due to a lethal combination of greed, ignorance, indifference, corruption and superficial trends? It's time to use our power to stop these selfish pursuits. We are better than this and we can stop it by raising our voices and getting everyone to listen. Join me in celebrating World Wildlife Day by telling the world that we won't let this happen on our watch.




I once heard that most people who care deeply about animals, the environment, and the planet had a transformative moment in nature when they were young. That´s how it was for me, and I truly believe such experiences shaped the person I am today in relation to my affinity with nature and spirituality. Nature inspires me, it´s where I recharge my energies. It has this power and also the ability to move us beyond selfish pursuits and to see the bigger picture. Nature is just incredible!
That´s why I believe that when we damage the planet we damage ourselves. We are nature and all life is connected. If you hurt one species you´re hurting them all, including us humans.
It saddens me that in the 21st century there are still many endangered wildlife species. Continued poaching, for example, is still threatening to wipe out populations of rhinos and elephants. I personally saw the sad situation of orphaned baby elephants in Kenya. Their mothers were killed by poachers. Nothing justifies killing an animal to use its parts only as material goods, decoration or even worse, to satisfy someone´s ego or pride.
If we want a better future, we also have to take care of the wildlife. That´s why I would like to invite everyone to take part in this campaign to end Illegal Trade in Wildlife.
Anyone can participate by simply spreading the word wherever you can—through casual conversation with friends and loved ones and, of course, in social media. It is also important not to buy illegal wildlife of any kind. This is ongoing work that requires us to be persistent and vigilant.
I believe we create our own reality through the choices we make, and we are the only ones capable of changing the reality we live in.









2016 theme is “The future of wildlife is in our hands”, with African and Asian elephants being the main focus of global campaigns.

The theme “The future of wildlife is in our hands” reinforces the inextricable link between wildlife, people and sustainable development. It is the responsibility of each generation to safeguard wildlife for the following generation. It also imparts the pressing need for national action to ensure the survival in the wild of both charismatic and lesser known species.

The secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), in collaboration with other relevant United Nations organizations, facilitates the implementation of World Wildlife Day.
 
Join the conversation



You can always do one small thing to join the people around the world to celebrate this special Day on the UN calendar. Lend your social media voice, speak for the voiceless and help us amplify the message that the future of wildlife is #InOurHands. Take a photo with our social media shout out card and support the #WWD2016 Thunderclap. 


 
The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival and the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) have teamed up in organizing an International Elephant Film Festival to raise global awareness of the various challenges facing the African and Asian elephants, and to World Wildlife Day 2016.




International Elephants Festival - World Wildlife Day 2016


Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Catherine A. Novelli hosts the event, "Voices for the Wild: Inspiration to Action, Celebrating the Contribution of Nature’s Storytellers," on the occasion of World Wildlife Day 2016 at the Department of State on March 2, 2016.






How can you we celebrate the World Wildlife Days?






Media advisory

- The global poaching vortex - The Brookings Institution


Wildlife trafficking and its associated activities affect national and international security in a myriad of ways: They can provide support to criminal groups, increase risks of health epidemics, and further degrade the already fragile ecological systems on which humans depend. Efforts to combat Wildlife trafficking, meanwhile, provide new opportunities for cooperation between the United States and China, among other countries.