Today is the first International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking since the adoption last year of the Sustainable Development Goals. Goal 3 calls on countries to strengthen the prevention and treatment of narcotic drug abuse, end AIDS and combat hepatitis. Goal 16 is designed to help to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies and institutions that can address illicit drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism.
The Sustainable Development Goals also informed the deliberations of the UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem in April. They support the founding principle of the International Drug Control Conventions, which is to ensure the health and well-being of humankind. This requires a balance between interrupting drug supply and preventing and treating the harmful impact of drugs on people’s health. Addressing the world drug problem demands a considered and unified response by Governments.
The illicit trade in drugs fosters transnational organized crime networks, systemic corruption and widespread violence. It is also a major public health menace. Millions of people are directly affected, especially the poor, vulnerable women and children, and those living in fragile communities.
The challenges posed by the world drug problem require a global response that is simultaneously effective, compassionate and humane. At the April Special Session on the World Drug Problem, tangible progress was made in promoting alternatives to incarceration, fortifying human rights commitments, strengthening the focus on illicit financial proceeds, and tackling corruption.
On this International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, I call on countries and communities to continue to improve the lives of everyone blighted by drug abuse by integrating security and public safety with a heightened focus on health, human rights, and sustainable development.
Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General.
Statement by UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov, on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, 26 June 2016
Today is the first International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking since April's UNGASS on the world drug problem. The Outcome Document adopted at UNGASS stresses a joint commitment to counter the world drug problem, and it has helped generate a global sense of purpose against this threat that menaces millions.
Perhaps most importantly, the document made a number of concrete recommendations on the way forward. These include: exploring alternative measures to conviction or punishment where appropriate; promoting international cooperation, chasing down the financial proceeds of drug related crime; the adoption of key international instruments on organized crime, corruption and terrorism; strengthening criminal justice systems, focusing on drug prevention and treatment; including HIV and hepatitis; and upholding fundamental human rights.
UNODC's World Drug Report 2016advances further understanding of the problem. In alarming detail the report shows a rise in the number of problem drug users from 27 to 29 million people aged 15-64; the disastrous resurgence of heroin in some regions; the use of the "Darknet" for drug trafficking; the appalling loss of life due to overdoses, and the disproportionate impact illicit drugs have on women, among many others challenges.
Today also follows the landmark adoption last September of the 2030 development agenda. The special session gave us the tools and the commitment to fight illicit drugs; but in the 17 Goals we now have the architectural blueprint for appreciating how work against drugs, crime and corruption fits into the much wider work of sustainable development.
One of the key recommendations of this year's World Drug Report is that achieving sustainable development and countering the world drug problem must not exist as distant cousins. Illicit drugs threaten the security and health of people, while weakening both communities and institutions. If targets are to be achieved under Goal 3 on health, and Goal 16, on peaceful societies, as well as many other goals, drug-related development initiatives should be mainstreamed into general development efforts.
On International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, I affirm that the UN Office on Drugs and Crime will continue to work with member states and civil society to confront the world drug problem.
High-level launch of the World Drug Report 2016 on the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (June 26) (A/RES/42/112), organized by the UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The latest report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said that the number of adults suffering from drug use disorders has gone up disproportionately for the first time in six years and that around 12 million people inject drugs, 14 percent of those living with HIV.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon message on the International Day of the Seafarer 2016, June 25th.
The world is now embarking on carrying out twin plans for the future that have the potential to transform our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Both can be advanced through actions of the shipping industry, giving added meaning to this year’s commemoration of the Day of the Seafarer.
By helping keep the world’s people clothed, fed and housed, seafarers have the potential to drive economic growth that is socially inclusive and environmentally sound.
At the same time, we must ensure that seafarers themselves benefit from the Sustainable Development Goals. Their work can be dangerous and difficult. At sea for up to a year, they may face loneliness, isolation and exploitation. They deserve appreciation for their efforts and compensation for their labour.
On this Day of the Seafarer, let us advance the work of those who make shipping possible in a way that promotes our global vision of a life of dignity and opportunity for all.
Ban Ki-moon,
United Nations Secretary-General.
Statement by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, on the International Day of the Seafarer 2016, June 25th.
This year, once again, 25 June will mark the annual Day of the Seafarer. The Day of the Seafarer was established in 2010 to recognize the unique contribution made by seafarers to international seaborne trade, the world economy and to global society as a whole.
Now, it is celebrated all over the world – in ports, on ships, in shipping companies and, of course, here at IMO. It gives us all a chance to reflect on how much we all rely on seafarers for most of the things we take for granted in our everyday lives. Over one million seafarers operate the global fleet yet billions of people depend on them for the essentials and the luxuries of life. Shipping is essential to the world – and so are seafarers. So, this year, on 25 June, the Day of the Seafarer, we are once again asking people everywhere to show their appreciation for the seafarers that quietly, mostly unnoticed, keep the wheels of the world in motion.
This year, our campaign slogan is "At Sea For All". We want people in shipping to use it to tell seafarers that they are essential to the industry. We want seafarers themselves to use it to say they are proud to serve a wider cause than their own careers. And we want members of the general public to use it to signal their own appreciation of the importance of seafarers.
We want everyone to say that seafarers are "At Sea For All". As in previous years, the campaign will be centred on social media. Please, show your support for our campaign, using the resources available on the Day of the Seafarer page on the IMO website. For example, on Twitter, tag us @IMOHQ and use the hashtag #AtSeaForAll. Post your messages and photos on our Facebook page and on our online wall at the IMO website. Share our videos – or, make your own and share them. And don't forget to use that hashtag so we can spread the word as far as possible. Last year, we reached more than 15 million people with our Day of the Seafarer campaign.
Seafarers lead a tough and sometimes lonely existence. Outside of shipping, most people don't know a seafarer – but everyone has cause to thank them. So please, on 25 June, join us in thanking them and spreading the word. You will be adding your voice to millions of others who, on this one day, take the time to stop and thank those who work so hard to make our lives better.
• Engage the shipping industry to tell both seafarers and the non-shipping audience that seafarers are essential to us all – by saying At Sea for All
• Engage seafarers themselves to say that they are proud to serve a wider cause than just their own careers – by saying
• We are At sea for All
• Engage enlightened members of the general public to signal their own appreciation of the importance of seafarers – by saying Seafarers are At Sea for All
"At sea for all"; that's the "campaign theme" of this year's annual Day of the Seafarer. It's the sixth annual day, marked by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Saturday, 25 June.
Seafarers Awareness Week is the annual campaign coordinated by Seafarers UK - the charity that supports the maritime community - to raise awareness of Britain's dependence on seafarers.
Organized by the Center for Oceans Law & Policy, in cooperation with the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) and the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) of the United Nations. UN Web TV
There are some 259 million widows around the world, and nearly half are living in poverty. Widows are often stigmatized by their families and communities. Many suffer discrimination based on age and gender. Some have lived lives marked by physical and sexual abuse.
Older widows often have few economic assets, after a lifetime of hard but unpaid work. Even in developed countries, the value of women’s pensions can be some 40 per cent lower than men’s. Younger widows face other challenges, as heads of households with childcare responsibilities and very limited economic opportunities.
The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda with its pledge to leave no one behind has a particular resonance for widows, who are among the most marginalized and isolated. On International Widows’ Day, let us pledge to make widows more visible in our societies, and to support them in living productive, equal and fulfilling lives.
On United Nations Public Service Day, we recognize and celebrate the role of
public service in improving peoples’ lives.
The efforts of women and men engaged in public service are crucial to the
implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Each Sustainable Development Goal is linked to the delivery of public
service: from health to education … from safety to the rule of law … from water
and energy to economic policies and beyond.
All countries and all people need a public service that is competent,
equipped and well-resourced. Public service needs to be diverse and ethical.
It needs to be dedicated to effectively serving people and improving the lives
of the poorest and most vulnerable.
I pay tribute to public servants in
all countries for their dedication to excellence. I would like to offer a
special word of recognition to the dedicated staff of the United Nations.
Across 10 years leading this noble organization, I marvel at their dedication
and professionalism every single day.
Once again, thank you for your commitment. Together, let us to create an
environment where public service can flourish with creativity, innovation and a
shared drive to realize the 2030 Agenda.
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,Ladies and Gentlemen, ...
I am delighted to welcome you to this celebration of the United Nations Public Service Day.
The theme of this year’s celebration – Advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Innovative Institutional Approaches and Public Service Delivery to Leave No One Behind - is timely and important, as we have begun the journey of translating the visionary, transformative and ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into reality.
At the global level, the UN General Assembly is exploring how to ensure coherent and inclusive review and follow-up of the SDGs. Member States are close to agreement on a resolution that will provide a solid basis for moving ahead
.
The High-Level Political Forum is the central UN platform for follow-up and review of the Agenda 2030. It will deliver on its role next month. 22 countries will make voluntary presentations at the Forum on the steps they have taken to implement the Agenda. These 22 volunteering countries come from all regions and all levels of development, demonstrating the truly universal nature of the 2030 Agenda.
The 2016 United Nations Public Service Day will celebrate the value and virtue of public service to the community and recognize the work of public servants. It will promote the importance of creativity, innovation and transformation of the public service. The event is open to representatives of the Permanent Missions of the United Nations, the United Nations agencies, academia and civil society.
Celebrating the 2016 United Nations Public Service Day - UN Web TV.
Organized by the Misión Permanente del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia ante NNUU en Ginebra, Permanent Delegation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to UNESCO and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
The UNPSA takes into consideration a geographical distribution of five regions.
In order to level the playing field for nominations received from countries with
varying levels of development and income, the following five regions have been
established, including: Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and North America,
Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western Asia.
Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India and is now practiced in various forms around the world. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.
Yoga balances body and soul, physical health and mental well-being. It promotes harmony among people, and between ourselves and the natural world. Recognizing its universal appeal, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga.
This year’s observance of the International Day of Yoga highlights the important role healthy living plays in the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted last year by all 193 United Nations Member States.
As exercise, yoga has multiple benefits. Physical inactivity is linked with a number of non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, which are among the leading causes of illness and death worldwide. By improving fitness, teaching us how to breathe correctly, and working to diminish stress, yoga can help to cultivate healthier lifestyles.
Practicing yoga can also help raise awareness of our role as consumers of the planet’s resources and as individuals with a duty to respect and live in peace with our neighbours. All these elements are essential to building a sustainable future of dignity and opportunity for all.
On this International Day of Yoga, I urge everyone to embrace healthier choices and lifestyles and to commit to unity with our fellow human beings, regardless of ethnicity, faith, age, gender identity or sexual orientation. Let us celebrate this Day – and every day – as members of one human family sharing one common, precious home.
Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and Spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and Consciousness. Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity.
° Recognizing that yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being,
° Recognizing also that wider dissemination of information about the benefits of practising ...yoga would be beneficial for the health of the world population,
EVENTS : This year’s celebration will be marked under the theme “Yoga for SDGs” since the Sustainable Development Goals were launched in January 2016. Goal 3 (“Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”) is particularly relevant since yoga improves physical health and general well-being. The target 3.4 specifically calls for a reduction by 2030 “by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention, treatment and the promotion of mental health and well-being.” Other SDGs can also be seen in different aspects of the practice of Yoga. Indian Prime Minister Modi highlights not only the health benefits of the practice but also the sustainable lifestyle it promotes, leading to better harmony between people and planet.
Monday 20 June, 3 – 5 pm ECOSOC Chamber, UN Headquarters, New York
Conversation with Yoga Masters: "Yoga for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals" (SDGs) Organized by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, the event will seek to enrich our collective understanding of the unique features of Yoga and its role for the achievement of SDGs. Participants: Jaggi Vasudev, also known as 'Sadhguru', and Ms. Tao Porchon-Lynch. Live webcast will be available through: webtv.un.org #Yoga4SDGs
Tuesday 21 June, 1:15 – 2:15 pm UN Secretariat Circle, UN Headquarters, New York
Organized by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN in association with the UN Department of Public Information. Participants: President of General Assembly, Mr Mogens Lykketoft, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Ms. Cristina Gallach, Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, Permanent Representative of India to the UN, and Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, a renowned spiritual leader who will lead a simple Yoga practice. The event will also include a musical incantation on Yoga.
Permanent Mission of India to the UN in association with the UN Department of Public Information, invite you to celebrate International Day of Yoga 2016.
Live webcast will be available through: webtv.un.org #Yoga4SDGs
The world continues to witness appalling levels of sexual violence in wartime. No region is immune to this scourge, which continues to affect women, girls, boys and men.
There has also been clear progress and unprecedented political momentum to address these crimes.
Sexual violence is now widely recognized as a deliberate strategy used to shred the fabric of society; to control and intimidate communities and to force people from their homes. It is rightly seen as a threat to international peace and security, a serious violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, and a major impediment to post-conflict reconciliation and economic development.
There have been landmark cases against political and military leaders, demonstrating that the era of impunity for sexual violence as a tool of war is over. I pay tribute today to the many thousands of caregivers, medical practitioners, advocates, and others on the frontline of this battle, who are fighting for change.
However, we still face serious challenges.
One extremely disturbing aspect is the use of sexual violence as a tactic of terrorism. Daesh, Boko Haram and other extremist groups are using sexual violence as a means of attracting and retaining fighters, and to generate revenue.
Abducted women, men, girls and boys suffer the most terrible trauma through brutal physical and sexual assault, child and forced marriages and sexual slavery on a massive scale.
The abduction of more than 200 girls from Chibok in Nigeria, and the continued tragedy of women and girls subjected to forced marriage or sexual slavery by extremist groups in the Middle East, are two of the most horrific examples of the use of sexual violence as a tactic of terrorism. I call for the immediate release of all those taken captive, and for the care and support of those who return, who can suffer from social isolation and depression.
Women and girls with children may need specialized medical and psycho-social support, and this must extend to the children themselves, who can suffer complete rejection.
The shame and social stigma faced by these women and children should be redirected towards the brutal perpetrators of violence.
We must continue to speak up for the women, girls, men and boys whose bodies for too long have been considered the spoils of war.
EVENTS : A panel discussion to commemorate the first annual International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict will be held at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Tuesday, 21 June 2016, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Please RSVP here.
The commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict 2016, 19 June
Forced displacement has reached unprecedented levels, with more than 65 million people uprooted from their homes globally. New and recurring conflicts, and ever-more disturbing forms of violence and persecution, are driving people to flee in search of safety within their own countries, or to cross international borders as asylum seekers or refugees. Others are living in long-term exile, as solutions to protracted conflicts remain elusive. At the end of 2015, there were 21.3 million refugees, 3.2 million people in the process of seeking asylum, and 40.8 million people internally displaced within their own countries.
World Refugee Day is a moment for taking stock of the devastating impact of war and persecution on the lives of those forced to flee, and honouring their courage and resilience. It is also a moment for paying tribute to the communities and States that receive and host them, often in remote border regions affected by poverty, instability and underdevelopment, and beyond the gaze of international attention. Nine out of ten refugees are today living in poor and middle income countries close to situations of conflict.
Last year, more than 1 million refugees and migrants arrived in Europe across the Mediterranean, in unseaworthy dinghies and flimsy boats. Thousands did not make it -- tragic testimony to our collective failure to properly address their plight. Meanwhile, divisive political rhetoric on asylum and migration issues, rising xenophobia, and restrictions on access to asylum have become increasingly visible in certain regions, and the spirit of shared responsibility has been replaced by a hate-filled narrative of intolerance. We see a worrisome increase in the use of detention and in the construction of fences and other barriers.
With anti-refugee rhetoric so loud, it is sometimes difficult to hear the voices of welcome. But these do exist, all around the world. In the past year, in many countries and regions, we have witnessed an extraordinary outpouring of compassion and solidarity, as ordinary people and communities have opened their homes and their hearts to refugees, and States have welcomed new arrivals even while already hosting large numbers of refugees.
There is an urgent need to build on and amplify these positive examples. Our responses to refugees must be grounded in our shared values of responsibility sharing, non-discrimination, and human rights and in international refugee law, including the principle of non-refoulement. On 19 September, the UN High-Level Plenary of the General Assembly on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants will offer a historic opportunity to agree a global compact, with a commitment towards collective action and greater shared responsibility for refugees at its core.
We must stand together with the millions of men, women and children who flee their homes each year, to ensure that their rights and dignity are protected wherever they are, and that solidarity and compassion are at the heart of our collective response.
The report focuses on three interdependent pillars. It calls for a new comprehensive framework and makes recommendations to address issues of common concern, including the causes of such movements, protecting those who are compelled to undertake such journeys and preventing discrimination and xenophobia frequently encountered.
Today, on World Refugee Day, we recognize the challenges and hardships that refugees face, honor their courage and resilience in the face of overwhelming obstacles, and celebrate their many valuable contributions to our Nation.
This year’s commemoration comes as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees reports that more people are displaced by rising violence, insecurity, and persecution than at any time on record. More than 65 million people around the world – more than the population of France, or California and Texas combined – have been driven from their homes. More than half are children. The scale of this human suffering is almost unimaginable; the need for the world to respond is beyond question.
Every day, members of the international community, humanitarian organizations, civil society, and individual citizens work to assist these vulnerable populations. For our part, the United States provides more humanitarian assistance to refugees than any other nation and maintains the world’s largest refugee resettlement program. We support programs that provide food, water, shelter, and medical care to refugees, and fight for their rights to safety, dignity and long-term livelihood opportunities.
But responding to today’s unprecedented challenge requires all of us to do more. In September, when world leaders meet for the UN General Assembly, I will convene a Leaders’ Summit on Refugees. In advance of that Summit, the United States is urging other governments to contribute more funding for humanitarian aid operations, to grant more refugees the chance to work and attend school, and to provide more resettlement opportunities for refugees who cannot safely go home or remain where they are. We are urging our non-governmental partners, including the private sector, to do more as well.
Even as our aid supports refugees thousands of miles from here, each day, countless Americans do their part to welcome and support refugees as they start life anew in the United States. The millions of refugees who have resettled here through the years have brought similar dreams of a better tomorrow. Each has enriched the diverse mosaic that is America. Their lives and their many accomplishments stand as a clear rebuke to the bigotry and brutality they fled, and serve as a powerful example of the human will to endure, hope, and achieve.
Today, we commemorate the spirit and strength of refugees worldwide and the dedication of those who help them on and after their journeys. Protecting and assisting refugees is a part of our history as a Nation, and we will continue to alleviate the suffering of refugees abroad, and to welcome them here at home, because doing so reflects our American values and our noblest traditions as a Nation, enriches our society, and strengthens our collective security.
Today, we honor refugees’ resilience and courage. We also recognize the tremendous contributions made by local and international non-governmental organizations on the front lines of delivering life-saving assistance. This year’s commemoration comes at a time when brutal conflicts are forcing record numbers of innocent people to flee, and challenging the world to find better ways to protect them. The war in Syria alone has displaced more than 11 million people – half of that nation’s pre-war population. Millions more have fled Daesh’s atrocities in Iraq, civil wars in Yemen and South Sudan, political violence in Burundi, and Boko Haram’s rampages through Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.
The number of forcibly displaced people is the largest ever recorded. Sixty-five million people are refugees, internally displaced or seeking asylum, five million more than a year ago.
World War II, another era of mass displacement, taught us indelible lessons about our collective duty to aid victims of conflict and persecution. The global humanitarian system our leaders assembled in the aftermath of that war has saved millions of lives. Throughout that time, the United States government has funded and continues to galvanize support for humanitarian operations. Last year alone, U.S. humanitarian aid exceeded $6 billion.
But this good work and the resources we and other donors provide are not keeping pace with today’s unprecedented needs – because there are so many refugees, because they are staying in exile longer, and because countries hosting them are overwhelmed. More than eight in ten who flee across borders take refuge in poor or middle income countries, often in countries struggling to provide even their own citizens with basic necessities like health care, education, and clean water.
The United States is determined to find solutions. That is why, on September 20, at the UN General Assembly in New York, President Obama will host a Leaders’ Summit on Refugees asking nations to make concrete commitments toward expanding the humanitarian safety net and creating more long-term, durable opportunities for refugees. In the meantime, we will remain committed to providing humanitarian assistance across the globe, while also expanding our own refugee resettlement program – from nearly 70,000 admitted last year to 85,000 from across the world in 2016.
The refugees we welcome to the United States will join previous generations who have come to this country to escape violence and persecution – threats to human life and dignity that remain all too real today. History celebrates such moments when we have overcome bias and fear, and opened our doors. Those who have walked through them have made immeasurable contributions to our community of citizens and enriched our lives. Their achievements are a testament to the potential all humans have to heal, to overcome loss, to start over, and to the obligation we share, to give future generations that chance.
In honor of World Refugee Day on June 20, officials from the U.S. Department of State are participating in a variety of outreach activities in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., New York City, and New Jersey to honor the contributions of refugees making new lives in communities across the U.S.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will be attending an interfaith Iftar reception this evening at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society center in Sterling, Virginia, where he is looking forward to meeting with refugee families and the communities that have so generously welcomed them to the United States. He will be joined in making remarks and meeting with community leaders by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Special Envoy Angelina Jolie Pitt, a tireless advocate on behalf of refugees.
This afternoon, the Secretary and Special Envoy Jolie Pitt will meet with a group of State Department employees who are former refugees or the sons and daughters of refugees. Following that roundtable, the Secretary and Special Envoy will hold a bilateral meeting to discuss refugee and other issues. The Secretary will also speak with a group of college students who are visiting the Department to participate in the U.S. Diplomacy Center’s diplomatic simulation on refugees and forced displacement. He will have the opportunity to see young Americans engaged in learning how to resolve a simulated humanitarian crisis through diplomacy.
Ambassador Samantha Power will represent the United States Mission to the United Nations later tonight at a photo exhibit organized jointly with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at the New York Public Library.
Recognizing refugees’ contributions to American society, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken will represent the Department at a naturalization ceremony being held today at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. He will deliver remarks, and welcome some of America’s newest citizens to a nation founded on the perseverance and dedication of immigrants. Deputy Secretary Blinken will also attend a small, informal training session for community leaders from across the United States who came to America as refugees and are dedicated to helping arriving refugees to integrate successfully.
U.S. Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Heather Higginbottom will participate in a public service announcement sponsored by the Ad Council. Through this campaign, Deputy Secretary Higginbottom will explain the strength and importance of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and will highlight the positive impact that refugees have on their communities.
This past weekend, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration Anne C. Richard spoke with refugees in Baltimore at a World Refugee Day event sponsored by representatives of the local community. Joined by the Mayor of Baltimore Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Assistant Secretary Richard conveyed her deep, heartfelt appreciation for the Baltimore community’s outstanding support for refugees, and her admiration for those who are leading successful lives in their new homes. Today, Assistant Secretary Richard, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Anne Patterson, and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Linda Thomas-Greenfield will discuss the refugee crisis and other foreign policy issues at a luncheon held today by the Women’s Foreign Policy Group.
Special Representative for Religion and Global Affairs Shaun Casey will travel to New Jersey later this week to attend a World Refugee Day event hosted by a local resettlement agency, highlight the role of religious communities in welcoming refugees, and thank local volunteers for their contributions. Special Representative to Muslim Communities Shaarik Zafar and Assistant Secretary Richard will join the Secretary at the interfaith dinner tonight at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society in Sterling, Virginia.
Special Representative for Business and Commercial Affairs Ziad Haidar is meeting today with business owners and refugees to discuss how refugees can and do fill roles much in demand in today’s economy – from healthcare to education to technology.
These efforts demonstrate the Department’s commitments to leading the global response to refugee crises, through the provision of humanitarian assistance and in marshaling our diplomatic resources to ask every individual and every nation to do more.
Building on this commitment, President Obama will co-host the Leaders’ Summit on Refugees in New York on September 20. The goal of the President’s summit is to expand the humanitarian safety net and create more long-term, durable opportunities for refugees.
The United States remains committed to finding safe, new lives for the world’s most vulnerable people as they flee conflict, terrorism, and persecution.
In a world where violence forces hundreds of families to flee each day, the UN Refugee Agency believes now is the time to show world leaders that the global public stands with refugees, and it will launch its#WithRefugees petition on June 20th to send a message to governments that they must work together and do their fair share for refugees.
The #WithRefugees petition aims to gather public support for the growing number of families forced to flee conflict and persecution worldwide, who currently face heightened anti-refugee rhetoric coupled with greater restrictions to asylum, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
“We are in a period of deepening conflict and turmoil in the world, which is causing many more people to flee their homes than before,” said Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. “It affects and involves us all, and what it needs is understanding, compassion and political will to come together and find real answers for the refugee plight. This has become a defining challenge of our times,” he said.
In 2015, millions of people were newly displaced, adding again to the global refugee and internal displacement totals. Overwhelmingly, it was countries of the developing world that were most affected, but Europe too witnessed dramatic scenes, as hundreds of thousands of people crossed the Mediterranean in search of safety and refuge. Thousands died along the way, according to the agency chief.
“At the same time, there was an extraordinary outpouring of empathy and solidarity, as ordinary people and communities opened their homes and their hearts to refugees, and some countries have welcomed new arrivals even while already hosting large numbers of refugees,” he explained and added: “The #WithRefugees campaign and petition aims to amplify those voices of welcome and show that the world stands with refugees.”
The petition calls on Governments to ensure that every refugee child gets an education, every refugee family has somewhere safe to live, and every refugee can work or learn new skills to make a positive contribution to their community.
Among those celebrities are UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Cate Blanchett, best-selling author Khaled Hosseini and supermodel and former refugee Alek Wek.
Others lending support include faith leaders Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Venerable V. Vajiramedhi, as well as actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Margot Robbie, Ben Stiller and Dame Helen Mirren and singers Juanes, Mika, Maher Zain and Babaa Maal.
“We are in the middle of a catastrophic displacement crisis that has already uprooted millions of innocent families, and seen too many lose their lives trying to reach safety,” said Ms. Blanchett.
“The ultimate solution is political – we need peace and stability. But whilst we wait for that, we – as people with a voice – can and must play our part,” she stressed, urging all countries to take a shared responsibility for ensuring refugees have protection, shelter and the chance to live a productive life. “If enough of us stand together, we will be heard.”
“Refugees are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, with the same hopes and ambitions as us; except that a twist of fate has bound their lives to a global refugee crisis on an unprecedented scale,” said Mr. Hosseini.
The petition will be delivered to the UN Headquarters in New York, ahead of September’s High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants.
Forum : The terms refugee and migrant are often used interchangeably but do you know the difference?
The #WithRefugees petition will be delivered to UN headquarters in New York ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting on September 19. The petition asks governments to:
Ensure every refugee child gets an education.
Ensure every refugee family has somewhere safe to live.
Ensure every refugee can work or learn new skills to make a positive contribution to their community
Mediterranean sea arrivals
Events :
Ahead of the World Refugee Day on 20 June, more than 60 film, TV and music stars have joined refugees, faith leaders and the United Nations refugee agency staff to back a petition highlighting the plight of forcibly displaced people.
Find out about the UN General Assembly high-level Summit to be held on 19 September,2016 on Refugees and Migrants .
Angelina Jolie Pitt, the UN refugee agency's special envoy, has warned that the international humanitarian system for refugees is breaking down. Ms Jolie Pitt has been speaking as part of the BBC's World on the Move day of coverage of global migration issues. She warned against a "fear of migration" and a "race to the bottom" as countries competed to be the toughest to protect themselves.
Ensuring access to territorial protection and asylum procedures; protection against refoulement; and the adoption of nationality laws that prevent andor reduce statelessness
Securing birth registration, profiling and individual documentation based on registration
Reducing protection risks faced by people of concern, in particular, discrimination, sexual and gender-based violence and specific risks faced by children
Reducing mortality, morbidity and malnutrition through multi-sectoral interventions
Meeting international standards in relation to shelter, domestic energy, water, sanitation and hygiene
Promoting active participation in decision making of people of concern and building coexistence with hosting communities
Promoting Human potential through increased opportunities for quality education and livelihoods support
Expanding opportunities for durable solutions for people of concern...
Briefing to the media by United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Mr. Jan Eliasson, and the Special Adviser on the Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants, Ms. Karen AbuZayd, on the launch of the Secretary-General's report "In Safety and Dignity: Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants".
The UNHCR WASH Manual is a comprehensive and authoritative reference document for WASH interventions in refugee settings, built upon the experience of UNHCR and WASH organisations.
