The 1st conversation will Tackle success stories of women ambassadors in a Ted-Like format. As well as the main challenges and obstacles that these experts experience in their diplomatic journey.
The 2nd conversation: will feature women in diplomacy for sustainable development goals, with special focus on SDG 6 reviewed at the HLPF to be held in July 2023, and in line with the water summit 2023 midterm review. This conversation will be discussing how water impacts peace and multilateralism, and their future vision.
The 3rd conversation: Breaking Barriers in Diplomacy. This conversation highlights the inclusion of disabled diplomats by showcasing how they overcome the stereotype of physical disabilities. RASIT Female blind scientists will moderate the conversation.
The 4th Conversation will focus on science diplomacy for peace and sustainable development.
EVENTS: At the UNHQ in New York on June 24th, to observe the International Day of Women in Diplomacy 2023, a high level event co-organized at the United Nations Trusteeship Council chamber by Permanent Missions of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, El Salvador, Eritrea, Grenada, Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Republic of Latvia, Republic of Malta, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Maldives, Republic of Kenya, Republic of South Africa, Saint Lucia, and the State of Qatar, in collaboration with the Office of the President of the General Assembly and UN Women will be held. the event will highlight the critical role of diplomacy in decision-making by focusing on the importance of expert and professional women in diplomatic negotiations. The plenary session more specifically will - Address the challenges and obstacles experienced by women in diplomacy, especially by young women, to highlight the most relevant solutions for future leaders. - Zoom in on women in diplomacy and discussing building capacity. - Recognize the interplay and interdependency between science, technology, and diplomacy; - Identify conditions and propose tools to put science, technology, and innovation at the heart of diplomacy. - Showcase the need to integrate understanding of social aspects and cultural dimensions in diplomacy especially with capacity development. Read the 2023 IDWID Concept Note.
In Geneva and Vienna, several panel discussions and workshops will be held. As we celebrate the remarkable contributions of women in diplomacy, we look forward to your participation in meaningful discussions on our common journey forward in the promotion of leadership and advancement of women in decision-making.
Public administration - the cornerstone of governments' work-plays an essential and critical role in improving people’s lives. Reinventing public administration is a positive and necessary way forward. Without public administration modernization and transformation to adapt to today’s needs, realizing a better future for all will be impossible. Where capable administrations are lacking, governments are incapacitated; and where governments are incapacitated, sustainable development falls short. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #UNPSA, #SDGs, #UNPublicServiceAwards, #PublicService, #Publicservants, #23june.
Today, on United Nations Public Service Day, we pay tribute to the women and men around the world who are answering the highest call: public service.
This year’s celebration arrives at the half-way point towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Public servants and the institutions they support will be increasingly critical as the world accelerates action towards the Sustainable Development Goals, which are badly off track.
Technology must be at the heart of this acceleration. Every day, new technologies emerge that hold the potential to change the way we live and work. When harnessed by an informed, skilled and equipped public service, technology can improve the reach and effectiveness of public services, while driving progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
As we mark this important day, let us celebrate the work of public servants worldwide, and find new ways to apply innovation to our work to shape a better, more sustainable future for all people.
To bolster recognition of the Day and the value of public service, the United Nations established the United Nations Public Service Awards (UNPSA) programme; In 2023, the United Nations Public Service Awards takes a break. As the UNPSA programme marks its 20th anniversary in 2023 and at the midway point to the year 2030, a comprehensive review of the UNPSA has been undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the programme and make necessary adjustments tobetter promote and disseminate innovations in the public sector. Today we celebrate the UNSPA and the 20 years of excellence in public service, showcasing global initiatives driving positive change. Let's be creative and achieve the Sustainable Development Goal together!
Building on the SDG Summit, the Summit of the Future in 2024 will be a key opportunity to reaffirm shared principles and advance practical solutions. As Member States embark on consultations on the scope and topics of the Summit of the Future, hearing questions and ideas from civil society will be important to inform those discussions. The Town Hall will serve as an opportunity for civil society to ask questions and to engage with the President of the General Assembly on issues including, but not limited to:
How can we strengthen the international community’s response to complex global shocks?
How can we deliver on our responsibilities to future generations yet to be born? How can youth engagement contribute to the discussion?
How can the international community address the challenges and opportunities posed by rapid technological development, in particular in the area of AI, and ensure a just digital transition?
How can the international community go beyond GDP as the primary measure of development and progress towards SDGs?
What are the most important challenges to be addressed by the Summit of the Future? What role do you see for the Summit of the Future in the implementation of sustainability transformation at all levels?
QUIZZ: UNDESA Public Institutions and Digital Government.
This campaign seeks to highlight the value of public service, acknowledge the contributions of public servants, and inspire young individuals to pursue careers in the public sector. As the world faces pressing challenges and with only seven years to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, embracing innovation in the public sector becomes crucial for accelerating progress. The UNPSA rewards and honors the creative achievements and effective contributions of public institutions in enhancing public administration and supporting sustainable development worldwide.
FORUM: "Let's work to ensure that widows of all ages, whatever their religion, ethnicity, caste, class, or nationality, are protected from discrimination, violence and poverty – thus enabling them to enjoy their full human rights as equal and valuable members of society." International Widows’ Day 2023.
By 2015 at least 38 million widows globally were living in extreme poverty.
This number is now hugely increased by armed conflicts, migration, violent extremism, natural disasters, and epidemics of disease now including Covid-19. Widows suffering marginalisation and deprivation of assets may resort to begging, child labour, withdrawal of children from education, early or enforced marriage of children and prostitution – creating a cycle of disadvantage and poverty within future generations that threatens progress with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Widows are among the most vulnerable in conflict and post-conflict situations.
Sexual and gender-based violence towards widows, frequently exacerbated by religious and ethnic discrimination, is widespread in such situations and tends to persist even after conflict has ended. Frequently lacking death certificates or any information on their partners’ whereabouts, ‘half widows’ (partners of the missing or forcibly disappeared) are often unable to access pensions or compensation, to claim any rightful inheritance, or remarry.
Millions of widows suffer widespread stigma, discrimination and abuse.
In many countries widows are seen as a burden on society or even ‘ill-omened’, with consequent exclusion and abuse carried out by their own families and communities. Widows often suffer traditional prohibitions on dress, diet and social mobility, and can be subjected to ‘widow inheritance’ in which a widow is forcibly ‘passed on’ to a designated male such as her deceased husband’s brother. Even worse are the harmful traditional practices (HTPs) such as ritual ‘sexual cleansing’, where a widow is made to have unprotected sex with a male relation or even a non-relative.
NEWS: To address the urgent social needs of widows', the UN Women provides empowerment courses targeting vulnerable women with funding support.
Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. Yoga brings about peace in this modern, fast-paced life by combining the body, mind, spirit and soul. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #Yoga, #21June, #Yoga4theword, #onefamily#YogaDay.
EVENTS: 9th International Day of Yoga. This year, the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, in collaboration with the UN Secretariat, is organizing the 9th International Day of Yoga at the North Lawn Area of the UNHQ, under the theme "Yoga for Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam" [Yoga for 'The World is One Family']. Delegates from the UN Member States, Officials and staff of the UN secretariat as well as eminent persons from all walks of life in New York, will be participating in the event.
In a divided world, yoga unites millions of people across the globe, for whom it is a source of strength, harmony, and peace. On this Internationa Day of Yoga, let us embrace this spirit of unity, and resolve to build a better, more harmonious world for people and planet.
Antonio Guteress. United Nations Secretary-General.
FORUM: "The solstice as the embodiment of the unity of cultural heritage and centuries-long traditions." International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice 2023. The Solstices play a significant role in strengthening the ties among peoples on the basis of mutual respect and the ideals of peace and good-neighborliness.
EVENTS: Summer Solstice 2023: Sunset Live from Stonehenge Watch the summer solstice sunset LIVE from Stonehenge, wherever you are in the world, with the first of our two free live streams! Watch the sun set over the Stone Circle as people celebrate the days beginning to lengthen. Our stream begins at 20:30 BST (this is 15:30 EDT/EST), with sunset occurring at 21:27 BST.
During my decade as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, I witnessed the resilience and contributions of refugees across all walks of life. Their perseverance in the face of adversity inspires me every day. Refugees represent the very best of the human spirit. They need and deserve support and solidarity — not closed borders and pushbacks. As we mark World Refugee Day, we confront a startling statistic. More than 100 million people living in countries rocked by conflict, persecution, hunger and climate chaos have been forced to flee their homes. These are not numbers on a page. These are individual women, children and men making difficult journeys — often facing violence, exploitation, discrimination and abuse. This Day reminds us of our duty to protect and support refugees — and our obligation to open more avenues of support. This includes solutions to resettle refugees and to help them rebuild their lives in dignity. We need greater international support for host countries, as called for by the Global Compact for Refugees, to boost access to quality education, decent work, health care, housing and social protection. And we need much stronger political will to make peace, so refugees can return safely to their homes. This year’s theme is “Hope Away from Home.” I call on the world to harness the hope that refugees carry in their hearts. Let’s match their courage with the opportunities they need, every step of the way.
Antonio Guterres; United Nations Secretary-General.
Why: The refugee problem continues to be a persistent challenge on the African continent due to complex factors. Conflicts and political instability affecting parts of Africa continue to force multitudes of African people into forced displacement in different countries. The widespread use of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), terrorism and religious extremism has further compounded the situation, and also resulted in lives lost, homes and properties destroyed. These challenges are compounded by a sharp increase in food insecurity; notably in the Horn of Africa, Central Africa, Central and Western Sahel due to a combination of back-to-back poor rainy seasons, raging and protracted armed conflict with inter-communal violence in some of the contexts. Over 8 Million refugees currently seek asylum and are in need of International Protection on the continent. While some of the refugee situations are relatively new, many are protracted, dating back to over 30 years. In some instances, refugees have been displaced multiple times and some refugees have their third or even fourth generation living in asylum, with most having no connection to their places of origin. All this continues to create desperation and despair, in addition to eroding community resilience and self-reliance.
Many AU Member States have largely maintained a favorable asylum space allowing forcibly displaced persons access to their territory to seek and enjoy asylum, an approach that is buoyed by the African spirit of Ubuntu. The African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on their part have also shown strong momentum in responding to the ongoing crises at a time when humanitarian needs are severely underfunded due to competing needs globally. The African Continent also has one of the most progressive refugee legal framework. The 1969 OAU Refugee Convention (Governing Specific Aspects of Refugees), the bedrock of refugee protection on the continent, is considered the most generous and flexible international agreement on refugee protection. In addition to the 1969 OAU Convention, other regional human rights instruments, such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, and international conventions provide a full spectrum of refugee protection rights and obligations. The 2009 Kampala Convention, expanded on both the protection and assistance of both displaced persons and refugees, whilst also bringing the beneficial effects of durable solutions to both categories.
The 2023 World Refugee Day highlights the necessity to include refugees in national socio-economic systems. Including refugees in the communities where they have found safety after fleeing conflict and persecution is the most effective way to support them in restarting their lives and enable them to contribute to the countries hosting them. It’s also the best way to prepare them to return home and rebuild their countries, when conditions allow them to do so safely and voluntarily, or to thrive if they are resettled to another country. In line with the theme, the African Union are organising a panel discussion to theme Refugee inclusion: What role can key stakeholders play in moving the agenda forward?
Refugee inclusion is even more timely as the African Union and international community prepare for 2023 Global Refugee Forum (GRF), which will take place between 13 - 15 December in Geneva, with advance events on 12 December. It will provide an opportunity to build on the significant progress made by governments and other stakeholders towards the implementation of pledges and initiatives announced since 2019.
Objective: The objective of the commemoration initiative is to generate attention to the situation of refugees in Africa, the efforts of stakeholders in determining root causes and implementing policies to protect, assist, and find durable solutions for affected populations by:
1. Creating continental awareness of the ongoing pressing refugee needs and take stock of the challenges over the years and echo the growing consensus on the humanitarian emergencies driven by a combination of complex and inter-related circumstances;
2. Highlighting efforts of the African Union, Member States, and partners to prevent forced displacement, protect and assist people during displacement, and realize durable solutions for displaced people. Within this context, reflect on the new African Humanitarian Architecture, principally the operationalization of the African Humanitarian Agency as a vehicle for humanitarian action on the continent while noting the challenges on refugee protection and humanitarian access;
3. Reflecting on the outcomes of the humanitarian and pledging summit held in May 2022 in Malabo and mobilize support for post-Malabo plans of the AU Commission, the PSC, Member States, and Humanitarian Partners;
4. Stressing that respect for relevant legal frameworks including the 1969 OAU Convention, 2009 Kampala Convention and the CAP Humanitarian Effectiveness as it contributes to reducing the scale and impact of protection challenges for refugees, asylum seekers and bolstering of their welfare;
5. Emphasizing the imperatives of political and durable solutions; and
6. Accentuating the fundamental importance of adequate resources in the face of escalating Protection and Assistance needs for refugees.
Participant: Participants will include: Representatives from select AU member states hosting significant numbers of refugees; RECs and RMs; Representatives from the AU Commission and Organs; International Organizations: United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), European Union (EU); Representatives from the AU partners Group (AUPG): Canada, The Netherlands, Switzerland, USA, France; Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS); Institute for Security Studies (ISS); and Media.
Media representatives are invited to cover the Commemoration of the World Refugee Day 2023 on 20th June 2023.
For any additional information kindly contact:
1. Mr. Michel Nshimba | OIC Humanitarian Division, Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development | E-mail: Nshimbam@africa-union.org
FORUM: "Bridging the gender digital divide to prevent, address and respond to conflict-related sexual violence." International Day for the elimination of sexual violence in conflict 2023.The purpose of this observance is to stand in solidarity with the survivors, and those supporting them, to spark hope, knowledge and inspiration as we lift our voices to say: "End Rape In War".Every new wave of conflict brings with it a rising tide of human tragedy, including new waves of war's oldest, most silenced, and least condemned crime-sexual violence.Conflict-related sexual violence, whether against women, girls, men, or boys in all their diversity, continues to be used as a tactic of war, torture, and terrorism amid deepening political and security crises, compounded by militarization and the illicit proliferation of arms. let's highlight the urgency for States and non-State actors to bridge the gender digital divide in conflict settings, fight online violence against women and girls in all their diversity, and promote digital tools and platforms designed to amplify efforts to prevent and respond to sexual violence in conflict, while ensuring the realization of the human rights of all survivors.Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #EndRapeInWar, #19June, #EliminateSexualViolence.
EVENTS: The Observance of the International day for the elimination of sexual violence in conflict 2023 will be held in the Conference Room 1, on Monday, June 19th from 10:00 a.m to 10: 30 a.m EDT. The event will begin with opening remarks by the three co-hosts, followed by a short video from Her Royal Highness Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg and Global in the Fight against Sexual Violence in Conflict. A leading Colombian journalist, survivor, women's human rights defender and Global Champion in the Fight against Conflict-Related Sexual Violence will deliver a statement. This will be followed by remarks by the Director of Programme at Physicians for Human Rights (PHR). The coordinated work of the United Nations in "delivering as one" in the fight against conflict-related sexual violence will be presented by the Deputy Executive Director (Programme) and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), an active member of the United Nations Action network, which is chaired by the SRSG-SVC.To conclude, representatives of Member States, Regional Groups, and Civil Society will be invited to make brief interventions
Livestream: Watch the event!
Expected outcomes:
1. Statements by the panelists, Member States, and senior United Nations officials, as
informed by the perspectives of survivors and civil society representatives.
2.Member States will reiterate their commitment to addressing CRSV, including through
adequate, flexible, and sustainable resourcing to the Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
Multi-Partner Trust Fund (CRSV MPTF).
