French Language Day 2021, March 20

La date du 20 mars est également reconnue par l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) comme étant la Journée internationale de la Francophonie. Les Nations Unies coopèrent régulièrement avec l’OIF et ses États membres dans l’esprit des dispositions des résolutions sur la coopération avec l’OIF adoptées périodiquement par l’Assemblé générale.

Forum:« Femmes francophones, Femmes résilientes.» Journée Internationale de la langue Française, 20 Mars.

Célébrez la Francophonie !

En 2021, l'OIF a souhaité inscrire les célébrations de la Journée internationale de la Francophonie sous le thème « Femmes francophones, Femmes résilientes ». En raison du contexte sanitaire, cette journée sera exceptionnellement célébrée le vendredi 19 mars 2021, dans un format virtuel, avec une programmation spéciale, diffusée depuis le siège de l’OIF, à Paris.

The Department of Global Communications has established them to recognize multilingualism and cultural diversity, as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization. Under the initiative, UN duty stations around the world observe the UN French language day, as one of the Organization's official language.

 Language Days at the UN aim to entertain as well as inform, with the goal of increasing awareness and respect for the history, culture and achievements of each of the six working languages among the UN community. 

International Day of Happiness 2021, March 20

 The Theme of the International Day of Happiness 2021 is  "Reconnecting People''.

Join us for the launch of the 2021 World Happiness Report!

Agenda: 11:00AM - 12:00​PM: 2021 Report Highlights by Chapter World Happiness, trust and deaths under COVID-19 John Helliwell COVID-19 Prevalence and Well-being: Lessons from East Asia Shun Wang Reasons for Asia-Pacific Success in suppressing COVID-19 Jeffrey Sachs Mental health and the COVID-19 pandemic (video) James Banks Social Connection and Well-Being during COVID-19 Karynna Okabe-Miyamoto Work and Well-being during COVID-19: Impact, Inequalities, Resilience, and the Future of Work Jan-Emmanuel De Neve Living long and living well: The WELLBY approach Richard Layard Question & Answers 12:00​ - 2:00​PM: Deeper Dive Sessions *Audience members can join at different sessions and specific times 12:15 PM - chapter 8: Living long and living well: The WELLBY approach. Q&A 12:40 PM - Chapter 7: Work and Well-being during COVID-19: Impact, Inequalities, Resilience, and the Future of Work. Q&A 1:05 PM - Chapter 3: COVID-19 Prevalence and Well-being: Lessons from East Asia. - Chapter 4: Reasons for Asia-Pacific Success in suppressing COVID-19. Q&A 20 minutes 1:40 PM - Chapter 2: World Happiness, trust and deaths under COVID-19 Q&A (10 minutes) 2:00 PM - END.

International Women's Day 2021, March 8

Statement by the Secretary-General of the United Nations on International Women's Day 2021. 

 From high job losses to exploding burdens of unpaid care, from disrupted schooling to an escalating crisis of domestic violence and exploitation, women’s lives have been upended and their rights eroded.  

Mothers – especially single mothers – have faced acute anxiety and adversity.

The consequences will far outlast the pandemic.

But women have also been on the frontlines of pandemic response.

They are the essential workers keeping people alive and holding economies, communities and families together.  

They are among the leaders who have kept prevalence rates lower, and countries on track for recovery.

This year’s International Women’s Day highlights the transformative power of women’s equal participation.  

We are seeing it ourselves at the United Nations, where I am proud that we have achieved gender parity in UN leadership posts for the first time in history.   

The evidence is clear.

When women lead in government, we see bigger investments in social protection and greater inroads against poverty.  

When women are in parliament, countries adopt more stringent climate change policies.

When women are at the peace table, agreements are more enduring.  

And with women now serving in equal numbers at the top leadership posts at the United Nations, we are seeing even more concerted action to secure peace, sustainable development and human rights.

In a male-dominated world with a male-dominated culture, gender equality is essentially a question of power.

Males are an essential part of the solution.  

I call on countries, companies and institutions to adopt special measures and quotas to advance women’s equal participation and achieve rapid change.  

As we recover from the pandemic, support and stimulus packages must target women and girls specifically, including through investments in women-owned businesses and the care economy.

Pandemic recovery is our chance to leave behind generations of exclusion and inequalities. 

Whether running a country, a business or a popular movement, women are making contributions that are delivering for all and driving progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

It is time to build an equal future.  This is a job for everyone – and for the benefit of everyone.

Thank you.

FORUM: “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”. International Women's Day 2021.

World Wildlife Day 2021, 03 March

 

PRESENTED BY UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP)

 UN Chamber Music Society
Virtual Performance at the Observance of
World Wildlife Day 2021
“Forests and livelihoods: sustaining people and planet”

Wednesday, 3 March 2021

8:00am – 11:00am EST

WATCH THE PERFORMANCE

World Wildlife Day CONCERT at UN Chamber Music Society

 

On 3 March 2021, the UN Chamber Music Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council will perform during the celebration of World Wildlife Day 2021, hosted by the United Nations Development Programme.  The focus of this year's World Wildlife Day is "Forests and livelihoods: sustaining people and planet", which sheds light on the links between the state of our planet’s forests and woodlands and the preservation of the millions of livelihoods that depend directly on them, with a particular attention to the traditional knowledge of the communities who have managed forest ecosystems and its wildlife for centuries.

In celebration of World Wildlife Day, the UN Chamber Music Society will perform a programme inspired by wildlife - 'Flocks a Mile Wide' – composed by 2x Grammy award winning composer, Christopher Tin.  Founded in 2016, the UN Chamber Music Society carries out the United Nations’ mission of peace, understanding and cooperation, through the universal language of music.  All musicians will perform chamber ensemble music from the safety of their homes, to help stem the spread of the coronavirus.
 

MESSAGES

H. E. Mr. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General

Ms. Ivonne Higuero, CITES Secretary-General

H.E. Mr. Federico Tenorio Calderón, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation of Peru

Ms. Fawn Sharp, President, Quinault Indian Nation and President, National Congress of American Indians

Ms. Elizabeth Mrema, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity 


UN Chamber Music Society

of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council
Brenda Vongova, Artistic Director

MUSIC PROGRAMME

CHRISTOPHER TIN (1976 - ) 'Flocks a Mile Wide'
Hana Mundiya (Violin I), Rohan Mundiya (Violin II), Abigail Elder (Viola), Derek Louie (Cello), Kohei Yamaguchi (Bass), Sarah Favinger (Bass), Brenda Vongova (Piano), Tom Betsalel (Percussion)

 

SPECIAL THANKS

Video Editing

Daniel Drake, Video Editor

 

Audio Production
VIRTUA CREATIVE
Edward Bilous, Artistic Director and Producer
Anran Qian, Production Coordinator 
Greg Kalember, Mix Engineer

World Hearing Day 2021, March 03

 "Hearing care for all" is the theme of World Hearing Day 2021. World Health Organization

WHO: 1 in 4 people projected to have hearing problems by 2050

The report, launched ahead of World Hearing Day, 3 March, underlines the need to rapidly step up efforts, Note to Editors World HearingDay 2021 Launch of the World Report on Hearing

If you having difficulties in communicating.

Be mindful of everyone's needs.

Zero Discrimination Day 2021, March 1st

Statement by the President of the General Assembly on Zero Discrimination Day 2021

75 years ago, at a time of great distrust, world leaders chose the path to unity over division. Coming together in recognition that there is strength in diversity, they created a multilateral system underpinned by the fundamental principles of equality and non-discrimination. Yet today, discrimination continues to exist. Women continue to suffer from disproportionate burden of unpaid care, labour market segregation and gender pay gap. Girls are facing the grave risk of never returning to school in the middle of a gender digital divide. We are living in an era of deepening inequalities, with 235 million people expected to require humanitarian assistance this year. For those furthest behind, life has become even harder due to climate change, conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic. I call on all Member States to meaningfully engage with those most vulnerable people. We must ensure that pandemic response and recovery plans are grounded in rights-based approaches that meet the needs of those who are lagging behind. In a world where millions of people lack access to essential healthcare services and vulnerable groups continue to experience much poorer health outcomes, we must prioritize the equal and fair distribution of vaccines for all. On Zero Discrimination Day, I hope you will join me in re-committing to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” We each have a responsibility to call out discrimination when we see it. To amplify the voices of those who have experienced discrimination, uphold the dignity of each individual, and to advocate and legislate for a more equal, just, and safer world for all. Thank you.

On #ZeroDiscrimination Day and every day we celebrate the right of everyone to live a full and productive life with dignity. Each of us can promote inclusion, compassion and peace—in a movement for change. Amina J Mohammed




Join the conversation

#EndInequalities

 

Gender inequalities in Senegal highlighted on Zero Discrimination Day 2021, March 1st

International Mother Language Day 2021, February 21

“Language is the blood of the soul into which thoughts run and out of which they grow” – Oliver Wendell Holmes. Each year, on 21 February, International Mother Language Day (IMLD) comes as a reminder of the power of language in preserving the uniqueness of human societies and promoting their distinct values. This year, UNESCO has decided on ‘Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society’ as the theme for the IMLD. To observe IMLD 2021, the Permanent Missions of Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, Jordan, New Zealand, Lithuania, UN, and UNESCO would be organizing a virtual event on the 22 February 2021. The event is aimed at upholding the inalienable right of people globally to their mother languages and the importance of linguistic and cultural diversities. Representatives of the co-hosting member states and the UN will speak about their visions and commitments for promoting multilingualism within and beyond UN as a means for promoting inclusion in education and society. The discussion will be followed by a multilingual cultural programme.

 

Hosted by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations

UN CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY
VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE AT THE OBSERVANCE OF INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY


Monday, 22 February 2021
12:00pm to 1:30pm EST 

WATCH THE EVENT ON: UNITED NATIONS
UN WEB TV

 

On 21 February 2021, the UN Chamber Music Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council will perform during the Observance of International Mother Language Day (IMLD).  The event will be hosted by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations, in collaboration with Members States from across the regions and UNESCO.  

 

The event is aimed at upholding the inalienable right of people globally to their mother languages and the importance of linguistic and cultural diversities.  Multilingualism, one of the core values of the UN, contributes to promoting, protecting and preserving diversity of languages and cultures globally and in the process, achieving the goals of the United Nations.  While the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed our lives, it has reminded us how interconnected we are today.  And how we all must all work together to tackle our current global crises.  Multilingualism and diverse culture cultures are important elements in building a peaceful and inclusive world. 

 

The music programme by the UN Chamber Music Society that you will hear today, will reflect on our diverse elements – through the universal language of music.  It will honour multilingualism, by featuring composers from South Africa, Bangladesh, France and Guadeloupe.  Founded in 2016, the UN Chamber Music Society is dedicated to promoting the UN goals at large - through the universal language of music.  All musicians will perform chamber ensemble music from the safety of their homes, to help stem the spread of the coronavirus.

 

 

MESSAGES

 

Welcome remarks by H.E. Ms. Rabab Fatima, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh

Statement by H.E. Mr. Volken Bozkir, President of the General Assembly

Message of Director General of UNESCO, to be delivered by UNESCO Representative to the UN in New York

Statement by Ms. Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications

 

Delivery of Message by Mr. Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New York City

 

MUSIC PROGRAMME

UN Chamber Music Society
of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council
Brenda Vongova, Artistic Director

 

SOUTH AFRICA / IsiXhosa
SIBUSISO NJEZA (1982 - )  “Nyana Wam” (“My Son”) aria from Madiba the African Opera
Nosango Mtirara (Soprano), Hana Mundiya (Violin), Rohan Mundiya (Violin), Florrie Marshall (Viola), Thapelo Masita (Cello), Amir Farsi (Flute), Alec Manasse (Clarinet), Brenda Vongova (Piano)
 

FRENCH / GUADELOUPE
JOSEPH BOLOGNE CHEVALIER DE SAINT-GEORGES (1745-1799) Quartet in g minor, I. Allegro
Hana Mundiya (Violin), Florrie Marshall (Viola), Thapelo Masita (Cello), Brenda Vongova (Piano)

BANGLADESH / Bangla
GARRY SCHYMAN (1954 - ) "Praan"
[Lyrics adapted from the poem "Stream of Life" from Gitanjali by RABINDRANATH TAGORE (1861 - 1941)]
 

SPECIAL THANKS
 

Dylan Louie, Video Editor
UN Chamber Music Society Messages