International Justice Day 2012, themed "Improving Capabilities, Strengthening Society," has given the Justice Ministry the opportunity to reflect on a year and a half of challenges and achievements.
On 6 July 2012, the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) held an event and symbolic flag-raising ceremony, calling other parties to join in celebrations of 17 July, International Criminal Justice Day.
The event began with speeches by Ambassador of Luxembourg, H.E. Mr Jean-Marc Hoscheit, representing the States parties to the Rome Statute, and the ICC President, Judge Sang-Hyun Song.
More information: www.icc-cpi.int
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
Sunday, 15 July 2012
Wednesday, 11 July 2012
Remarks by Secretary Clinton: July 2012 - World Population Day
World Population Day
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
July 11, 2012
This
year as we mark World Population Day, leaders from around the globe are
meeting in London for the Family Planning Summit hosted by the
Government of the United Kingdom and the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation. They are working to find new ways to support the rights of
women and young people to decide whether, when, and how many children to
have.
Reproductive rights are among the most basic of human rights. But too often, in too many places, these rights are denied. Millions of women and young people in developing countries don't have access to information to plan their family. They don't have health services and modern methods of contraception. This is not only a violation of their right to decide the number, timing, and spacing of their children, it's also a question of equity as women everywhere should have the same ability to determine this fundamental part of their lives.
Voluntary family planning programs represent more than just an investment in health and human rights. Family planning is one of the most successful development interventions and one of the strongest and most cost-effective investments available. It reduces poverty, and it allows governments to invest in infrastructure, schooling, and healthcare. For over 40 years the U.S. government, through the work of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been committed to supporting effective and sustainable family planning programs. During this current fiscal year the U.S. contributed over $640 million through USAID for bilateral family planning and reproductive health programs, and $35 million to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the largest multilateral provider of life-saving family planning and reproductive health information and services. The partnership between the U.S. government and UNFPA is critical to advancing sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights for women, men, adolescents and youth around the world.
We must continue to build on this solid foundation and advance solidarity within the international community for the right of women and young people to make decisions about their own bodies. Our efforts are critical to improving the status of women and upholding these basic human rights around the world.
Reproductive rights are among the most basic of human rights. But too often, in too many places, these rights are denied. Millions of women and young people in developing countries don't have access to information to plan their family. They don't have health services and modern methods of contraception. This is not only a violation of their right to decide the number, timing, and spacing of their children, it's also a question of equity as women everywhere should have the same ability to determine this fundamental part of their lives.
Voluntary family planning programs represent more than just an investment in health and human rights. Family planning is one of the most successful development interventions and one of the strongest and most cost-effective investments available. It reduces poverty, and it allows governments to invest in infrastructure, schooling, and healthcare. For over 40 years the U.S. government, through the work of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been committed to supporting effective and sustainable family planning programs. During this current fiscal year the U.S. contributed over $640 million through USAID for bilateral family planning and reproductive health programs, and $35 million to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the largest multilateral provider of life-saving family planning and reproductive health information and services. The partnership between the U.S. government and UNFPA is critical to advancing sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights for women, men, adolescents and youth around the world.
We must continue to build on this solid foundation and advance solidarity within the international community for the right of women and young people to make decisions about their own bodies. Our efforts are critical to improving the status of women and upholding these basic human rights around the world.
PRN: 2012/1137
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
World Population Day - 11 July
Secretary-General’s Message for 2012
The world’s population has more than tripled since the United Nations was created in 1945, and keeps growing. With more than 7 billion people now inhabiting the planet, we face ever greater demands on shared resources and significant challenges to the achievement of internationally agreed development goals.
Multiple crises — food, fuel and financial — have caused significant suffering and served as a wake-up call about the need to pay far more attention to the building blocks of sustainable development. Reproductive health is an indispensable part of the sustainable development equation. Women and young people who are in good health, and who have the power and means to make their own decisions about how many children to have — and when to have them — are better able to contribute to the development of their societies.
Yet only one in three rural women in developing countries receives adequate care during pregnancy. Teenage pregnancies are still commonplace in most parts of the world, often driven by poverty and a lack of education. More than 200 million women and adolescent girls have no access to contraceptives. And voluntary family planning programmes are starved for resources almost everywhere.
We can — and must — do better. On this World Population Day, I call for urgent concerted action by Member States to bridge the gap between demand and supply for reproductive health care. Reproductive health and rights are integral to sustainable development and poverty reduction. Investing in universal access to reproductive health is a crucial investment in healthy societies and a more sustainable future.
Ban Ki-moon
The world’s population has more than tripled since the United Nations was created in 1945, and keeps growing. With more than 7 billion people now inhabiting the planet, we face ever greater demands on shared resources and significant challenges to the achievement of internationally agreed development goals.
Multiple crises — food, fuel and financial — have caused significant suffering and served as a wake-up call about the need to pay far more attention to the building blocks of sustainable development. Reproductive health is an indispensable part of the sustainable development equation. Women and young people who are in good health, and who have the power and means to make their own decisions about how many children to have — and when to have them — are better able to contribute to the development of their societies.
Yet only one in three rural women in developing countries receives adequate care during pregnancy. Teenage pregnancies are still commonplace in most parts of the world, often driven by poverty and a lack of education. More than 200 million women and adolescent girls have no access to contraceptives. And voluntary family planning programmes are starved for resources almost everywhere.
We can — and must — do better. On this World Population Day, I call for urgent concerted action by Member States to bridge the gap between demand and supply for reproductive health care. Reproductive health and rights are integral to sustainable development and poverty reduction. Investing in universal access to reproductive health is a crucial investment in healthy societies and a more sustainable future.
Ban Ki-moon
Friday, 6 July 2012
How co-operatives provide an ethical alternative to business across the world in many different sectors from small shops to global organisations.
This first eBook looks at how co-operatives contribute to the world through food production.
Co-operative Enterprises Build A Better World Through Food
International Co-operative Day 2012
The International Day of Co-operatives is celebrated annually on the first Saturday of July.
Message of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) - 90th ICA International Co-operative Day - 18th UN International Day of Co-operatives - 7th July 2012 - English
Message de l’Alliance Coopérative Internationale (ACI) 90ème Journée internationale des coopératives de l’ACI - 18ème Journée internationale des coopératives des NU - 7 juillet 2012 - Français
Mensaje de la Alianza Cooperativa Internacional (ACI) - 90° Día Internacional del Cooperativismo de la ACI - 18° Día Internacional del Cooperativismo de las Naciones Unidas - 7 de julio de 2012 - Español
第90回ICA国際協同組合デー及び - 第18回国連国際協同組合デーに向けたICAメッセージ - 2012年7月7日 - 日本語
The aim of the day is to increase awareness of co-operatives and promote the movement's successes and ideals of international solidarity, economic efficiency, equality, and world peace.
ICA first celebrated the International Day in 1923. The International Day is now run in partnership with the UN and the UN asks all member governments to participate in the celebrations each year.
The International Day has a different theme each year. Themes in recent years have included ‘Youth, the future of co-operative enterprise’ in 2011 and ‘Co-operative enterprise empowers women’ in 2010. Co-operatives around the world celebrate the Day in many different ways, seeking to gain press and publicity at a local and national level.
The ICA wants to make the International Day in 2012 something that we will all remember – one in which one billion co-operators can get involved in order to raise public awareness about the co-operative business model. The theme for the International Day 2012 is the same as the International Year of Co-operatives: "Co-operative enterprises build a better world".
UN International Day of Co-operatives, 7 July 2012 "Cooperative enterprises build a better world" - "Les coopératives, des entreprises pour un monde meilleur" - "Las empresas cooperativas ayudan a construir un mundo mejor".
This year's theme links to the observance of the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives. It seeks to encourage the growth and establishment of cooperatives all over the world, and to recognize the actions of cooperatives in helping to achieve internationally agreed upon development goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals.
How to celebrate the International Day?
Co-operatives around the world celebrate the Day in many different ways. Below are examples of some of the activities organised by co-operatives around the world:
• The messages of the ICA and United Nations are translated into local languages and widely disseminated to co-operators, media, and government officials at all levels.
• Co-operatives use the media to create awareness on their movements and contributions.
• Co-operative Fairs, exhibits, contests, and campaigns are held.
• Meetings with government officials, United Nations agencies and other partner organisations are held.
• Co-operatives partner with community agencies to champion economic, environmental, social and health challenges.
• Cultural events are sponsored - theatre, concerts, etc.
Whatever you are doing, we have various ways you can promote your activity
Message of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) - 90th ICA International Co-operative Day - 18th UN International Day of Co-operatives - 7th July 2012 - English
Message de l’Alliance Coopérative Internationale (ACI) 90ème Journée internationale des coopératives de l’ACI - 18ème Journée internationale des coopératives des NU - 7 juillet 2012 - Français
Mensaje de la Alianza Cooperativa Internacional (ACI) - 90° Día Internacional del Cooperativismo de la ACI - 18° Día Internacional del Cooperativismo de las Naciones Unidas - 7 de julio de 2012 - Español
第90回ICA国際協同組合デー及び - 第18回国連国際協同組合デーに向けたICAメッセージ - 2012年7月7日 - 日本語
The aim of the day is to increase awareness of co-operatives and promote the movement's successes and ideals of international solidarity, economic efficiency, equality, and world peace.
ICA first celebrated the International Day in 1923. The International Day is now run in partnership with the UN and the UN asks all member governments to participate in the celebrations each year.
The International Day has a different theme each year. Themes in recent years have included ‘Youth, the future of co-operative enterprise’ in 2011 and ‘Co-operative enterprise empowers women’ in 2010. Co-operatives around the world celebrate the Day in many different ways, seeking to gain press and publicity at a local and national level.
The ICA wants to make the International Day in 2012 something that we will all remember – one in which one billion co-operators can get involved in order to raise public awareness about the co-operative business model. The theme for the International Day 2012 is the same as the International Year of Co-operatives: "Co-operative enterprises build a better world".
UN International Day of Co-operatives, 7 July 2012 "Cooperative enterprises build a better world" - "Les coopératives, des entreprises pour un monde meilleur" - "Las empresas cooperativas ayudan a construir un mundo mejor".
This year's theme links to the observance of the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives. It seeks to encourage the growth and establishment of cooperatives all over the world, and to recognize the actions of cooperatives in helping to achieve internationally agreed upon development goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals.
How to celebrate the International Day?
Co-operatives around the world celebrate the Day in many different ways. Below are examples of some of the activities organised by co-operatives around the world:
• The messages of the ICA and United Nations are translated into local languages and widely disseminated to co-operators, media, and government officials at all levels.
• Co-operatives use the media to create awareness on their movements and contributions.
• Co-operative Fairs, exhibits, contests, and campaigns are held.
• Meetings with government officials, United Nations agencies and other partner organisations are held.
• Co-operatives partner with community agencies to champion economic, environmental, social and health challenges.
• Cultural events are sponsored - theatre, concerts, etc.
Whatever you are doing, we have various ways you can promote your activity
Wednesday, 27 June 2012
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 26 June
Secretary-General's Message for 2012
Twenty-five years since the entry into force of the Convention against Torture, this cruel and dehumanizing practice remains pervasive. Every day, women, men and children are tortured or ill-treated with the intention of destroying their sense of dignity and human worth. In some cases, this is part of a deliberate state policy of instilling fear and intimidating its population. In too many countries, people’s legitimate demands for freedom and human rights are met with brutal repression. Even when regimes change, torture often persists and a culture of impunity remains. On this International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, we express our solidarity with, and support for, the hundreds of thousands of victims of torture and their family members throughout the world who endure such suffering. We also note the obligation of States not only to prevent torture but to provide all torture victims with effective and prompt redress, compensation and appropriate social, psychological, medical and other forms of rehabilitation. Both the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council have now strongly urged States to establish and support rehabilitation centres or facilities. The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture supports hundreds of organizations and entities that provide assistance to victims of torture and their family members in all regions of the world. However, the Fund has seen a significant decrease in contributions over the past two years. I strongly encourage States to reverse this trend, despite current global financial uncertainty. By concretely supporting victims of torture, the international community will prove its unequivocal determination and commitment to fight torture and impunity.
Ban Ki-moon
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