International Women's Day 2014, March 8

 Celebrated annually on 8 March, the 2014 theme for International Women’s Day is: “Equality for women is progress for all”.

Join the Forum : International Women's Day - March 8.

Secretary-General Says in Message for Women’s Day ‘Equality Is Not a Dream,

 But a Duty of Governments, the United Nations, and Every Human Being’

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for International Women’s Day, 8 March:

This International Women’s Day, we are highlighting the importance of achieving equality for women and girls not simply because it is a matter of fairness and fundamental human rights, but because progress in so many other areas depends on it.

Countries with more gender equality have better economic growth.  Companies with more women leaders perform better.  Peace agreements that include women are more durable.  Parliaments with more women enact more legislation on key social issues such as health, education, anti-discrimination and child support.

The evidence is clear: equality for women means progress for all.

This simple truth must be central as we work to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals by next year’s deadline and craft an agenda for the years beyond 2015. 

Important gains have been made in access to primary education for girls and political representation by women.  But progress remains far too slow and uneven.

A baby girl born today will still face inequality and discrimination, no matter where her mother lives.  We have a common obligation to ensure her right to live free from the violence that affects one in three women globally; to earn equal pay for equal work; to be free of the discrimination that prevents her from participating in the economy; to have an equal say in the decisions that affect her life; and to decide if and when she will have children, and how many she will have.

I have a message for every girl born today, and to every woman and girl on the planet: realizing human rights and equality is not a dream, it is a duty of Governments, the United Nations and every human being.

I also have a message for my fellow men and boys: play your part.  All of us benefit when women and girls — your mothers, sisters, friends and colleagues — can reach their full potential.

Together, let us work for women’s rights, empowerment and gender equality as we strive to eliminate poverty and promote sustainable development.  Equality for women is progress for all!

Ban Ki-moon.

International Women's Day 2014 : The UN Refugee Agency

UNHCR pledges to advance gender equality programme 

 Guterres said this year's theme "recognizes that we do not live in a world in which all women and girls are treated equally and without discrimination. As we all too often see in our daily work, forced displacement exacerbates the risks that women and girls face."
The High Commissioner also highlighted some important UNHCR programmes that will impact positively on the situation for displaced women and girls.

 

The World Bank Goup : International Women's Day 2014

 
H.E. Mr. Jim Yong Kim's of the The World Bank Group

3 Blind Spots for Gender Equity: Work, Education, and Violence

Sharing Experiences and Insights to Enhance Gender Equality in Sub-Saharan Africa

On February 27, a high-level regional workshop kicked off in Lomé, Togo, with the participation of Ministers of gender affairs and officials from 11 economies from West and Central Africa focusing on the World Bank Group’s Women, Business and the Law 2014: Removing Restrictions to Enhance Gender Equality report. A welcome dinner prior to the official opening of the event revealed the dynamic nature of gender affairs Ministers – all women – and the common realities and issues facing their nations. Most were meeting for the first time in a unique experience that enabled sharing stories and views about laws, cultural norms and traditional roles within the family in prelude to the official discussions.

International Labour Organization (ILO) : International Women’s Day 2014.
"Women at work – where we are, where we want to be"

To mark International Women’s Day 2014, the ILO reflects on the progress that has been made and what still needs to be done to achieve gender equality in the workplace. Follow two women, an Indian CEO and a US school teacher, whose experiences shed an interesting light on the common challenges facing women across the globe.

United Nations Population Fund : Statements by UNFPA Executive Director General Babatunde Ostimehin.

Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin

Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin - See more at: http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/16834;jsessionid=DA3AB23FE7F4400950F4B5D035AFC416.jahia01#sthash.PaRxPiA8.dpuf

Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin - See more at: http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/16834;jsessionid=DA3AB23FE7F4400950F4B5D035AFC416.jahia01#sthash.PaRxPiA8.dpuf

 International Women’s Day: Progress for Women and Girls is Progress for All

As we commemorate International Women’s Day and celebrate the many achievements of women and girls, we should also remember that for far too many, the ability to live a healthy, productive life free from violence, to fully enjoy their rights, remains an aspiration.

Message from the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova on the occasion of International Women's Day 2014 :

 English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Chinese. 

The fifty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 10 - 21 March 2014.

 

International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.

1908
Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.

1909
In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.

1910
n 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named a Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women's clubs, and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament, greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result.

1911
Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a week later on 25 March, the tragic 'Triangle Fire' in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women's Day events. 1911 also saw women's 'Bread and Roses' campaign.

1913-1914
On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. In 1913 following discussions, International Women's Day was transferred to 8 March and this day has remained the global date for International Women's Day ever since. In 1914 further women across Europe held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women's solidarity.

1917
On the last Sunday of February, Russian women began a strike for "bread and peace" in response to the death over 2 million Russian soldiers in war. Opposed by political leaders the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The date the women's strike commenced was Sunday 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia. This day on the Gregorian calendar in use elsewhere was 8 March.

1918 - 1999
Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown from strength to strength annually. For many years the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for women's rights and participation in social, political and economic processes. 1975 was designated as 'International Women's Year' by the United Nations. Women's organisations and governments around the world have also observed IWD annually on 8 March by holding large-scale events that honour women's advancement and while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.

2000 and beyond
IWD is now an official holiday in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.

However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.

Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.

Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google some years even changes its logo on its global search pages. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status. The United States even designates the whole month of March as 'Women's History Month'.

So make a difference, think globally and act locally !! Make everyday International Women's Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.

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World Wildlife Day 2014, March 3

Celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora.
Join the Forum on  World Wildlife Day - March 3

United Nations Secretary-General's Message

For millennia, people and cultures have relied on nature’s rich diversity of wild plants and animals for food, clothing, medicine and spiritual sustenance. Wildlife remains integral to our future through its essential role in science, technology and recreation, as well as its place in our continued heritage. That is why the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 3 March – the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) – as World Wildlife Day.
Despite its intrinsic value to sustainable development and human well-being, wildlife is under threat. Some of the world’s most charismatic species, as well as lesser-known but ecologically important plants and animals, are in immediate danger of extinction. A major cause is habitat loss. Another is the increase in illicit trafficking. 
The environmental, economic and social consequences of wildlife crime are profound. Of particular concern are the implications of illicit trafficking for peace and security in a number of countries where organized crime, insurgency and terrorism are often closely linked. 
While the threats to wildlife are great, we can reduce them through our collective efforts. On this inaugural World Wildlife Day, I urge all sectors of society to end illegal wildlife trafficking and commit to trading and using wild plants and animals sustainably and equitably. 
Let us work for a future where people and wildlife coexist in harmony. Let’s go wild for wildlife!

 Ban ki-moon - United Nations Secretary General

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Wildlife now has its own special day on the United Nations calendar. On the 3rd of March we will for the first time ever celebrate World Wildlife Day.

The 3rd of March is the opportunity for all of us - no matter who we are or where we are - to celebrate the beauty and variety of the millions of plants and animals that we share our planet with.
While we cherish wildlife in its own right we should not forget that it also contributes to our personal well-being - from food to medicine – from culture to recreation.

But today our wildlife is suffering from habitat loss as well as a grave threat from illegal trade, which is worth many billions of dollars every year. This illegal trade is now threatening the survival of some of our most charismatic species, as well as some plants and animals you may never have heard of.
So as we are celebrating wildlife let’s do whatever we can - as citizens and as consumers - to bring this illegal trade to an end. Let’s work for a future where people and wildlife coexist in harmony.
By working together we can do this - and in doing so secure the future for wild plants and animals as well as for ourselves.
On this special day let's reconnect with our planet's wild side - let's go wild for wildlife!
John E. Scanlon, Secretary-General of CITES

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

“FAO associates itself with enthusiasm with the celebration of the World Wildlife Day which was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in recognition of the value of wildlife and its various contributions to sustainable development and human well-being. Whilst dramatic trends in criminal hunting and trade are threatening emblematic species to the verge of extinction, requiring immediate, prompt and decisive action, concerted and efficient efforts are also needed to sustainably manage wildlife so as to provide ecological, social, economic and cultural contributions to human development, food security, and wellbeing. FAO looks forward to working with countries and partners, including the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management (CPW), to more effectively address the needs in this area, paying special attention to sustainably improving the livelihoods of poor rural communities and the conservation of their natural resources.”
Eduardo Rojas-Briales, Assistant Director-General

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

International World Wildlife Day should be a day for a celebration by people everywhere of this planet’s rich diversity in flora and fauna. Across plains, and in oceans and forests, this world teems with life in all its infinite varieties.
Animal and plant life are a source of shared wonder, but we confront failure in our stewardship of this planet’s diversity. Wildlife and environmental crimes, in all their harrowing forms, are destroying this heritage.
Elephants, rhinos, tigers and other wildlife, are being slaughtered for their ivory, skins and for their bones. The killing of animals is a crime without sense. It is fuelling new crimes, including terrorism and other forms of trafficking, as well as devastating the economies of countries; many of whom rely on their biodiversity for tourism.
Yury Fedotov
Executive Director
UN Office on Drugs and Crime

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

"I wish to express my strong support for the World Wildlife Day, the first of which is to be celebrated on 3 March 2014, 41 years to the day the CITES treaty was adopted. It presents a unique opportunity to remember and celebrate the world's diversity and multitude of flora and fauna, strengthen conservation of plants and animals in the wild which are key to the survival of life on earth, and ensure sustainable and legal trade that is non-detrimental to the species, and enhances livelihoods and incomes. At a time when the earth's natural resources are being exploited at an accelerated pace to meet the needs of burgeoning populations and consumer demands, the World Wildlife Day and CITES will help us to focus more on sustainable practices by communities, governments and enterprises in our ultimate quest for development." Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of UNCTAD

World Trade Organization (WTO)

“As Director-General of the WTO I am proud to support World Wildlife Day. Ensuring that economic growth and development can take place without damaging the environment is one of the great challenges of our time – and the WTO has an important role to play. WTO rules seek to achieve a crucial balance, fostering trade as a means to promote growth and development, while also supporting the right of WTO Members to take appropriate measures to protect the environment. We will continue this work in the years ahead and look forward to marking the day.” Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General

International Trade Centre (ITC)

“The International Trade Centre (ITC) commends the United Nations General Assembly for the designation of World Wildlife Day on 3 March. This is a day that celebrates the beauty of nature and biodiversity in its myriad forms.We join the CITES Secretariat and the rest of the world in celebrating this very first World Wildlife Day and pledge our support to continuing our efforts to conserve and protect the world’s wildlife..." Arancha Gonzalez, Executive Director

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

“IUCN is delighted to join in the global celebrations of the inaugural World Wildlife Day on 3 March 2014 declared by the United Nations General Assembly.
World Wildlife Day gives us a chance to highlight the breathtaking diversity of our planet’s animal and plant species and how their continued survival in the wild is intimately linked to ours.
IUCN, with its deep connection to CITES, has been working on conservation and sustainable use of wildlife for over 60 years, in particular through the 8,500 members of the IUCN Species Survival Commission — bringing the top species conservation expertise to support CITES, IUCN and the conservation community worldwide..." Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director General

World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)

“The world community of zoos and aquariums is delighted to support the World Wildlife Day, initiated by CITES and endorsed by the UN General Assembly. This important initiative will highlight the intrinsic value of living creatures, their beauty and ultimately their importance for human beings – hopefully resulting in better protection”.
Gerald Dick, Executive Director

Monterey Bay Aquarium

“We are delighted to share with you some words from Ms Julie Packard, Executive Director of Monterey Bay Aquarium and daughter of Hewlett-Packard (HP) co-founder David Packard on World Wildlife Day: "For 30 years, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has connected people with ocean wildlife as a way to inspire them to care more – and do more – to protect the oceans. Our survival depends on protecting healthy ecosystems on which people and wildlife depend. Designation of World Wildlife Day is a powerful new way to remind all people how much we rely on the natural world.
Find more about the conservation and research work of Monterey Bay Aquarium on great white sharks, bluefin tuna and southern sea otters: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/research.aspx.”
Julie Packard, Executive Director
daughter of Hewlett-Packard (HP)
co-founder David Packard 

International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)

“On the occasion of the first World Wildlife Day, the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) wishes to place on the record its congratulations on the anniversary of the founding of CITES and its ongoing support for the goals of CITES as embodied in the World Wildlife Day. ITTO and CITES have been working together for the past decade to improve the management of tropical tree species listed in the CITES Appendices. We will continue this important partnership to ensure that these species are sustainably managed and traded consistent with the regulations of CITES and the goals of ITTO. Once again, congratulations to our CITES friends - we look forward to being able to report many more successes from our joint work on tropical tree species on future World Wildlife Days.” Emmanuel Ze Meka, Executive Director

United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON)

“As Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi, also home of the late Wangari Maathai and just minutes and hours away from some of the world’s richest and diverse wildlife which underpins a big part of East Africa’s economy, I welcome the opportunity to recognize the 1st World Wildlife Day as an important platform in the promotion of global action for the protection and conservation of our wildlife.” Sahle-Work Zewde, Director-General, United Nations Under-Secretary-General

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

“Congratulations on the establishment of the World Wildlife Day.
Many of the world's most majestic endangered species can be found in the drylands, where their habitats are shrinking due to the pressures of development, climate change and desertification. In addition to these severe threats, the survival of dryland range animals like elephants and rhinos is also threatened by poaching. Holistic policies that protect wildlife as an important part of dryland ecosystems are urgently needed to save endangered species from extinction.” Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

“IMO firmly believes in the importance of raising awareness of the multitude of benefits that wildlife provides to people and World Wildlife Day 2014 provides an ideal opportunity to this end. In this connection, I would like to highlight that IMO has adopted key environmental treaties and codes of practice to protect marine ecosystems and wildlife from operational discharges from ships, and from accidental marine pollution. Furthermore, IMO has implemented ships routeing measures and developed guidance documents to reduce vessel strikes with cetaceans. IMO has also designated a large number of marine areas, such as Special Areas under MARPOL that include special mandatory discharge standards, as well as fourteen Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas. These areas enjoy special protection through action by IMO because of their significance for recognized ecological or socio-economic or scientific reasons, and for their vulnerability to damage by international maritime activities.”
Koji Sekimizu, Secretary-General

اليوم العالمي للأحياء البرية

Journée mondiale de la vie sauvage

Всемирный день дикой природы,

世界野生物日

World Wildlife Day

Día Mundial de la Vida Silvestre

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: Message for Year of Crystallography

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

Message for Year of Crystallography

20 January 2014

VIENNA, 20 January (United Nations Information Service) - This year marks the centenary of the birth of modern crystallography. We celebrate 100 years of ground-breaking advances.
Crystallography is fundamental to understanding the structure of matter.
It is critical for materials science, health care, agriculture and biotechnology.
Today, crystallography is at the core of structural sciences, revealing the constitution of minerals and the molecules of life, helping scientists to design new-generation materials and life-saving medicine.
In recognition of these important contributions, the United Nations General Assembly designated 2014 as the International Year of Crystallography. The goal is to raise awareness about the power of crystals, deepen cooperation and create new partnerships across the globe.
Crystallography has an important place as we work for inclusive sustainable development -- policies that are good for people and the planet.
I thank UNESCO, along with the International Union of Crystallography and all other partners.
Thank you for working to help societies harness the full power of sciences for sustainable development. Let us make the Year a great success!

* *** *

 

Join the forum  2014 as the International Year of Crystallography

International Mother Language Day 2014, February 21

Recognizing local languages enables more people to make their voices heard and take an active part in their collective fate.

Join the forum : International Mother Language Day, February 21

United Nations Secretary-General's message for International Mother Language Day, February 21

International Mother Language Day celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity alongside multilingualism as a force for peace and sustainable development.

As we work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals while mapping out a post-2015 sustainable development agenda, this diversity can encourage dialogue, mutual understanding, innovation and creativity. This in turn can help us build more just and inclusive societies. As the late President Nelson Mandela once said, "If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart".

The theme of this year’s observance spotlights the vital role of local languages in advancing science.  This will help ensure that the latest scientific knowledge is more widely shared.  At the same time, it will help deepen and enrich our global knowledge base with more traditional but often overlooked scientific wisdom.
Let us all join forces to promote linguistic diversity and multilingualism as a key element in our efforts to build a better world and a life of dignity for all.

Ban Ki mooon

Local languages for global citizenship: spotlight on science

 International Mother Language Day celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity alongside multilingualism as a force for peace and sustainable development, United Nations officials said today, marking the commemoration by calling on countries to promote and protect local languages, “which are keys to global citizenship and authentic mutual understanding.” “Recognizing local languages enables more people to make their voices heard and take an active part in their collective fate,” said Irina Bokova, Director-General of the UN Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO), which in its work promotes the harmonious coexistence of the 7,000 languages spoken worldwide
.
The International Day was proclaimed by the UNESCO General Conference in 1999. In 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on Member States “to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world”. By the same text, the Assembly proclaimed 2008 as the International Year of Languages, to promote unity in diversity and international understanding, through multilingualism and multiculturalism.


The 2014 International Day, on the theme “Local languages for global citizenship: spotlight on science”, shows how languages ensure access to knowledge, its transmission and its plurality. “Contrary to popular wisdom, local languages are perfectly capable of transmitting the most modern scientific knowledge in mathematics, physics, technology, and so on,” said Ms. Bokova in her message.

English - IMLD2014 - Message from the UNESCO Director-General

“Recognizing these languages also means opening the door to a great deal of often overlooked traditional scientific knowledge to enrich our overall knowledge base,” she continued, adding that local languages constitute the majority of languages spoken worldwide in the field of science. They are also the most endangered.
“Excluding languages means excluding those who speak them from their fundamental human right to scientific knowledge,” Ms. Bokova said, stressing that in today’s “global village” the norm is to use at least three languages, including one local language, one language of wider communication and one international language to communicate at both the local and global levels.
“This linguistic and cultural diversity may be our best chance for the future: for creativity, innovation and inclusion. We must not squander it,” she declared.

In his message, Secretary-General Ban ki-moon said the theme of the International Day will help ensure that the latest scientific knowledge is more widely shared. “At the same time, it will help deepen and enrich our global knowledge base with more traditional but often overlooked scientific wisdom,” he added.
“Let us all join forces to promote linguistic diversity and multilingualism as a key element in our efforts to build a better world and a life of dignity for all,” the UN chief said, adding that language diversity can encourage dialogue, mutual understanding, innovation and creativity. This in turn can help us build more just and inclusive societies.
Quoting the late South African leader Nelson Mandela, he said: ‘If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language – that goes to his heart’.

Resources : 

Local languages provide "access to scientific knowledge": UNESCO

World Day of Social Justice 2014, February 20

Join the Forum on World Day of Social Justice.

Social protection is a human right, says ILO head

February 20 is World Day of Social Justice. Marking the occasion, ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder called for a recovery for all that promotes inclusive growth, employment and social protection.

Today, an entire generation of young people faces the prospect of a more uncertain, less prosperous future than did their parents. Many are already in desperate situations hardly able to fall any further.





This is a reality no policy maker can afford to ignore.

Even before the global financial crisis erupted in 2008, half of the world was living below the US$ 2 a day poverty line, millions went hungry and too many had no prospect of securing a decent job.

Six years of weak economic recovery and a faltering policy response have left millions more behind, without jobs and with less affordable food and services.

As a result, we are faced with a deep social crisis, a crisis too of social justice.

Disturbing – and rising levels of inequality – in advanced and developing economies are widely acknowledged as cause for great concern. Today the wealth of the top one per cent of the global population equals that of the poorest 3.5 billion people.

Are policy-makers ready to act?

Social protection measures are essential elements of the policy response. Countries with strong social security systems have reduced their poverty rates by more than half, through social transfers and have significantly reduced inequality.

Social protection is both a human right and sound economic policy. Social security enables access to health care, education and nutrition.

Well-designed social protection systems support incomes and domestic consumption, build human capital, and increase productivity.

Experience since 2008 has also shown that countries with such systems were able to respond more quickly and effectively to the crisis.

Yet over 76 per cent of the world’s population continues to live without adequate health and social protection coverage.

And in the present environment, extension or maintenance of protection may meet with scepticism or be set aside for the future.

It is timely to recall those countries that historically have built sound economies and decent societies with social protection. And more recently, countries in a range of circumstances - from Brazil to Thailand and China to Mozambique have been making considerable efforts to make social protection an integral part of their development strategies. They are showing that affordability cannot be the excuse for inaction.

In 2009, the ILO and UN launched the Social Protection Floor Initiative advocating social protection floors for all. Then, in June 2012 the International Labour Conference adopted the path-breaking ILO Recommendation Concerning National Floors of Social Protection (No. 202). It provides good guidance.

In the face of the social crisis – and the crisis of social justice, we urge policy-makers and policy making to converge on the vision and ambition of a real global socio-economic recovery - a recovery for all - and a Post-2015 Development Agenda that helps lift all out of poverty.

There are options and the choice can be made to prioritize macroeconomic and fiscal policy decisions that promote inclusive growth with decent employment and social protection. This is the strong and sustainable foundation of social justice.

Event

World Day for Social Justice: Inclusive Growth and Decent Work

Statement

ILO Director-General: "We are faced with a deep social crisis, a crisis too of social justice"

Message of the International Social Security Association (ISSA) Secretary General on the UN World Day of Social Justice 2014

Publication

The Social Protection Floor Initiative (fact sheet 2012) - [pdf 367KB]

Web page

ILO Topic Portal on Social Protection

This content is available in :  Español  Français  Italiano  

 

World Radio Day 2014, February 13

Join the Forum World Radio Day, February 13.

 Radio is popular amongst the public as a low-cost technology for information, education and entertainment. 

Why Radio Is Important?

An article in the Los Angeles Times by Nairobi correspondent John Balzar reveals the importance of radio in Africa.

To speak of radio in Africa is to discuss life and death. And a good deal of everything else in between. Shortwave, FM, transistor, battery, solar, clock, windup- radio is the central nervous system of the very nervous, decentralized continent. 

Much of the rest of the world may be drowning in the flood of data from the Information Age. But in Africa, for hundreds of millions of people, events over the next hill and beyond are known by just two means: word of mouth as carried by travelers- and word of mouth as broadcast on radio. 

Yes, the Cable News Network reaches some big hotels in African capitals. Newspapers flourish in cities. But on a continent that is crushingly poor, undereducated, rural and remote, only radio can truly be called the medium for the masses.

Radio also is power, an extension of Africa’s oral tradition in which each important idea is amplified dozens of times over by village chitchat and campfire gatherings.That’s why soldiers with machine guns are dug in behind sand bags to protect the perimeter of government radio stations all over Africa.
That’s why the United States, Britain, France, and all kinds of other outsiders spend millions of dollars broadcasting to Africa.

And that’s why a mud-hut peasant family buys batteries before it buys shoes.

At last count in Rwanda, there were perhaps half a dozen newspapers, no television station, 14,000 telephones and 500,000 radio receivers listening to three local and any number of international broadcasts.
Shortwave receivers are considerably more expensive than standard FM radios and consume batteries faster. But only the most primitive, poor community lacks at least one shortwave. They can be seen in refugee camps where families are otherwise reduced to wearing rags and eating gruel. They can be found in remote villages where not even the wheel has made an appearance.

 World Radio Day is a day to celebrate radio as a medium; to improve international cooperation between broadcasters; and to encourage major networks and community radio alike to promote access to information, freedom of expression and gender equality over the airwaves.

As radio continues to evolve in the digital age, it remains the medium that reaches the widest audience worldwide. It is essential to furthering UNESCO’s commitment to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.



Through World Radio Day 2014 celebrations around the world, UNESCO will promote gender equality by:

° Sensitizing radio station owners, executives, journalists, and governments to develop gender-related policies and strategies for radio

° Eliminating stereotypes and promoting multidimensional portrayal in radio

° Building radio skills for youth radio production, with a focus on girls as producers, hosts, reporters

° Promoting Safety of women radio journalists 

We invite all countries to celebrate World Radio Day by planning activities in partnership with regional, national and international #broadcasters, non-governmental organizations, the media and the public.

Message from Miss Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World Radio Day 2014.

Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World Radio Day 13 February 2014 - See more at: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/world-radio-day-2014/messages/message-from-unesco-director-general/#sthash.8CyAAH1A.dpuf

On 13February, let’s celebrate women in radio and those who support them!





RADIO BROADCASTING COMPETENCIES

Radio Production Competencies

Radio Presentation Competencies

Radio Interviewing Competencies

Radio Copywriting Competencies

RadioScriptwriting Competencies

Radio News and Current Affairs Writing

Radio News and Current Affairs Production

Radio Outside Broadcasting

- See more at: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/world-radio-day

Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World Radio Day 13 February 2014 - See more at: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/world-radio-day-2014/messages/message-from-unesco-director-general/#sthash.8CyAAH1A.dpuf

Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World Radio Day 13 February 2014 - See more at: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/world-radio-day-2014/messages/message-from-unesco-director-general/#sthash.8CyAAH1A.dpuf

World Wetlands Day 2014, February 2nd

In recognition of the important interrelationship between Farming and Wetlands, the theme for World Wetlands Day 2014 is Wetlands and agriculture: partners.

World Wetlands Day - February 2

 

Global Inundation Map (GLIN)

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The Global Inundation Map, termed GLIN, is a global raster map showing estimates for average annual minimum, average annual maximum, and long-term maximum inundation extents at 15 arc-second spatial resolution. In a partner product (GLIN-monthly) monthly average inundation extents are represented

Vulnerability of European Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera to Climate Change

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A dataset of bio-ecological traits of 1,942 Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa was used to analyze the potential vulnerability of EPT species to climate change at the scale of European ecoregions.

Global Waterfall Database (HydroFALLS)

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The Global Waterfall Database, termed HydroFALLS, is a point shapefile and related attribute table showing the location of 4362 waterfalls including their names and estimated mean river flow. The database has been compiled and validated using a variety of source information and constitutes the first consistent global GIS layer of waterfall features. The point locations have been co-registered to the global HydroSHEDS river network.

Global Freshwater Fish Species Richness

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The 1,054 drainage basins in this map cover more than 80% of the world’s continental surface area. The evaluation of native, non-native, and endemic freshwater fish species is based on an extensive literature survey.

Global Diversity Patterns in Freshwater Systems

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Global patterns of freshwater species diversity are described using two diversity descriptors (species richness and degree of endemicity) for freshwater amphibians, birds, crayfish, fishes, mammals and reptiles per HydroBASIN basin.

Global Diversity Patterns in Freshwater Systems

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Global patterns of freshwater species diversity are described using two diversity descriptors (species richness and degree of endemicity) for freshwater amphibians, birds, crayfish, fishes, mammals and reptiles per HydroBASIN basin.

European Freshwater Alien Species

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Introductions of invasive alien species (IAS) are considered one of the main pressures to freshwater ecosystems. In this context, the maps presented here aim to assist scientists and policy makers in their efforts to prevent and control alien invasions.

Freshwater Fish Extinction Rates due to Water Availability Loss from Climate Change

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Based on a global geospatial framework of river drainage basins and on future climate data from 18 Global Circulation Models (GCMs) from the ‘pessimistic’ IPCC scenario (A2), we quantify future active drainage basin area losses and combine them with an extinction rate–area curve to project future surface-dependent extinction rates. We then estimate the future projected change in extinction rate worldwide and project the number of extinct species in 1010 river basins.

Vulnerability of European Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera to Climate Change

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A dataset of bio-ecological traits of 1,942 Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa was used to analyze the potential vulnerability of EPT species to climate change at the scale of European ecoregions.

Freshwater Species Data: Increasing Knowledge on Biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Patterns of richness and threat for four freshwater groups represent significant new knowledge on the distribution and status of Africa’s biodiversity.

Freshwater Biodiversity and Protected Areas in Africa: a Gap Analysis

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This map shows that the existing protected areas in mainland Africa do not adequately cover sub-catchments identified as potential freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas. Only 21.30% of the total area of these priority sub-catchments fall within the protected area network.

Multiple Human Pressures and Their Spatial Patterns in European Running Waters

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This study represents the first high-resolution data analysis of human pressures at the European scale, where important pressure criteria for 9,330 sampling sites in 14 European countries were analysed.