International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2013, December 3.

- Theme: "Break Barriers, Open Doors: for an inclusive society and development for all" 

Opening ceremony at the United Nations Headquarter in New York.

/

- United Nations Enable Theatre performance: “Breaking through the barriers”
- Panel discussion on “Mental well-being, disability and development”
 - United Nations Enable Film: “Gold: You can do more than you think”
- Panel discussion on “WIPO Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works, intellectual property and the inclusion of persons who are visually impaired or otherwise print disabled”


Persons with disabilities must be able to reap benefits of development, UN officials stress.

3 December is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. P.Brown/ILO

There are at least one billion people with disabilities across the globe around 785 million of whom are of working age, the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) chief Guy Ryder says in a message marking International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

But he says while they represent a large, diverse pool of talent, too many are denied the dignity of work.

“The ILO promotes decent and productive work for all, including people with disabilities. Experience tells us that more often than not, they can perform the same tasks as the non-disabled. To have a fair chance they need access to skills and entrepreneurship development programmes, as well as to business development services and credit. The doors of enterprises and workplaces must also be open to them. All together such measures will greatly help jobseekers with disabilities to compete successfully in their search for decent work, and entrepreneurs to develop viable, sustainable businesses.”  (44″)

Ryder says the ILO aims to integrate disability issues in all relevant areas of its work:  from the promotion of international labour standards…to knowledge development and research; advocacy and technical cooperation.

He says the situation of women and men with disabilities in the labour market is a cause for concern as they are far less likely than non-disabled people to be employed.

Donn Bobb, United Nations.
Duration:   1’28″

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 2013, November 29

Join the Forum : November 29 - International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
Reaching a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the problems of the Middle East.

World Fisheries day 2013, November 21

World Fisheries day is celebrated every year on November 21 throughout the world by the fisherfolk communities. This day is celebrated through rallies, workshops, public meetings, cultural programs, dramas, exhibition, music show, and demonstrations to highlight the importance of maintaining the world's fisheries. World Fisheries Day helps in highlighting the critical importance to human lives, of water and the lives it sustains, both in and out of water. Water forms a continuum, whether contained in rivers, lakes, and ocean.

Join the Forum : Discussions on World Fisheries Day.

 From Sea to Source : Internationa Guidance for the restoration of fish migration highways.

• Better work conditions, special fund part of World Fisheries Day(Source: Vatican Radio)

 Under the 'Voices of Fishers' project conducted in relation to the development of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security , the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) produced a number of testimonies from fishing communities. Members from fishing communities around the world were asked to talk about their perceptions on issues relating to tenure and rights over fisheries and riparian lands on which they live.

 A selection of these from India, Panama, South Africa, Spain and Thailand is made available:

Voice of Fishers -- Thailand

Voice of Fishers -- Spain

Voice of Fishers - India

Voice of Fishers -- South Africa 

Voice of Fishers - Panama

World Philosophy Day 2013, November 21

 World Philosophy Day 2013 theme: Inclusive Societies, Sustainable Planet.
Join the  forum :  Discussions on World Philosophy Day - November 21

Celebrated every year on the third Thursday of November, the World Philosophy Day will be held in 2013 on Thursday, 21 November. The day after the closure of the 37th session of the General Conference of UNESCO, the celebration will be a unique opportunity to reflect on the greatest contemporary challenge, to which UNESCO and the entire United Nations system seeks to respond, namely: building inclusive societies on a sustainable planet.


Celebrated on 21 November 2013, the 11th edition of the World Philosophy Day will be an opportunity to organize, on all continents, various events under the general theme of the 2013 World Philosophy Day “Inclusive Societies, Sustainable Planet”. They will enable their participants to share a multitude of views and experiences, fully respecting cultural diversity.

At UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, the celebration will be marked by the organization of a round table on the topic of the Day - “Inclusive Societies, Sustainable Planet”, which will welcome, on 21 November 2013, from 11am to 1pm, distinguished philosophers and scholars of international repute, including Ms Tannella Boni (Côte d'Ivoire), Ioanna Kuçuradi (Turkey) and Yves Charles Zarka (France).

Opened by the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, this round table - moderated by Ali Benmakhlouf (Morocco), Professor of Arab Philosophy at the University of Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne (France) - will be directly related to a subject which is at the heart of public debates around the world and within the United Nations: the growing inequalities between rich and poor within many countries and between countries and sustainable development.

Participants in the round table will discuss the concepts of social justice, solidarity, exclusion and inclusion in different societies, as well as issues related to the vulnerability of various groups - including women, children, young people, people with disabilities, minorities, indigenous peoples, migrants, refugees, people living in poverty - and the interfaces between these issues and sustainable development.

Together, they will explore such questions as: are there moral or ethical principles to be taken into account in public policies aimed at combatting exclusion and building inclusive societies? If there are such principles, how can philosophy contribute to identifying them?

Over two days of the following week, on 26 and 27 November, UNESCO House will also host a series of events which echo the main themes of the 2013 World Philosophy Day “Inclusive Societies, Sustainable Planet”, including  building inclusive societies on a sustainable planet..

On 26 November, UNESCO will organize a round table on “Thinking the Anthropocene” which will discuss, from the philosophical and ethical perspective, issues related to the new role of human beings as a force of nature which has pushed the Earth into a new geological era referred to by scientists as the “Anthropocene”. The round table will be held with the participation of philosophers who have written extensively about the Anthropocene, including Clive Hamilton (Australia) and Christophe Bonneuil (France).

This round table will be followed by the opening of a contemporary art exhibition, specially put together for World Philosophy Day 2013 by the French association Coalition for Art and Sustainable Development - COAL. This exhibition entitled “Adapting in the Anthropocene” will present projects by the artists nominated for the COAL Art & Environment Prize 2013, as well as for the COAL Prize in previous years, and will be open to the public from 25 to 29 November 2013. It will feature several artistic projects that capture major societal and contemporary environmental issues and contribute to the emergence of a new culture of nature and ecology.

On 26 and 27 November 2013, UNESCO Headquarters will also host the 13th International Workshop on New Philosophical Practices. Organized by the French association Philolab, and many other partners, in cooperation with the Social and Human Sciences Sector of UNESCO, these meetings will explore new philosophical practices in schools and in the city, and, at the same time, implement them.

Furthermore, on 26 and 27 November, UNESCO will host of the 13th International Meeting on New Philosophical Practices (NPP). Organized by the French association Philolab and in cooperation with UNESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector and other partners, the NPP events will explore the developments of New Philosophical Practices in schools and in the city.

Finally, on 27 November 2013, an international round table entitled "Paul Ricoeur: Ethical Knowledge", organized by the Paul Ricoeur Fund, in cooperation with the Sector for Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO, will pay tribute to one the greatest French philosophers of the twentieth century, on the occasion of the centenary of his birth with the participation of philosophers who are recognized experts in the work of Ricoeur: Tasso Beatriz Contreras (Chile); André Duhamel (Canada); Peter Kemp (Denmark); and Claire Marin ( France ).

Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Philosophy Day 2013

PROGRAMME

• Find out what will happen on the Day

UNESCO PARIS
21 November 2013

• Round Table - “Inclusive Societies, Sustainable Planet”

25-29 November 2013

• "Adapting in the Anthropocene" - A UNESCO/COAL Exhibition

26 November 2013

• Round Table on “Thinking the Anthropocene”

26-27 November 2013

• 13th International Meetings on New Philosophical Practices
• Master classes: demonstration of philosophy teaching for children

27 November 2013

• Round Table - "Paul Ricoeur: Ethics of Knowledge"

AROUND THE WORLD

• Activities around the world

Organizer UNESCO - Social and Human Sciences Sector
Programme : http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/SHS/pdf/wpd2013_programme.pdf
Contact : John Crowley, wpd@unesco.org

Key Documents

• Arab-Muslim Civilization in the Mirror of the Universal: Philosophical Perspectives
• Asian-Arab Philosophical Dialogues on Culture of Peace and Human Dignity [PDF,  2.7 MB]
• Asian-Arab Philosophical Dialogues on Globalization, Democracy and Human Rights [PDF, 1.9 MB]
• Asian-Arab Philosophical Dialogues on War and Peace [PDF, 1.1 MB]
• UNESCO Study “Philosophy: A School of Freedom” [PDF, 14 MB]
• Squaring the circle, Women Philosophers’ Journal, Issue N° 1, November 2011
• Teaching Philosophy in Europe and North America [PDF, 1.8 MB]
• Teaching Philosophy in Latin America and the Caribbean [PDF, 699 KB]
• Teaching Philosophy in Africa: Anglophone Countries [PDF, 439 KB]
• Teaching Philosophy in Asia and the Pacific [PDF, 529 KB]
• Teaching Philosophy in the Arab Region [PDF, 940 KB]
• The UNESCO Courier - Humanism, a new idea [PDF, 5.6 MB]
• The UNESCO Courier - Philosophy, a cosmic responsibility [PDF, 906 KB]

WORLD TELEVISION DAY 2013, November 21.

WORLD TELEVISION DAY occurs annually on November 21th.

Join the Forum : World Television Day - November 21.

In recognition of the increasing impact television has on decision-making by bringing world attention to conflicts and threats to peace and security and its potential role in sharpening the focus on other major issues, including economic and social issues, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 November as World Television Day (through resolution 51/205 of 17 December 1996).


World Television Day is not so much a celebration of the tool, but rather the philosophy which it represents. Television represents a symbol for communication and globalization in the contemporary world.

UNTV programmes being prepared for shipment to television stations in many parts of the world.
01 November 1957. UN Photo

 Imagine for a moment that, as of tomorrow, your television set stopped working. What’s the first thing you’d miss? Your favourite drama series? Staying in touch with the news? Seeing your sports club in action?

Maybe. But TV’s importance in society goes deeper than that. Television is a medium that improves the world, triggers imagination, raises curiosity, encourages education and gathers millions around common interests.

We believe in television as a medium that does good, we believe in television as a medium that triggers imagination, arises curiosity, encourages education and gathers millions around common interests. Here are nine good reasons why we should celebrate television today.

° TV has authority :

Today information is everywhere. But television has a particular authority. If you see something on TV, you know that millions of others are also seeing it, and that it has been verified, produced and created by professionals. That’s why television remains the most popular and trusted platform for news, culture, sports and entertainment.

° TV creates communities :

Great television programmes create communities around them. TV shows, live events and news make animated conversation for friends, family and colleagues. They bind people together and trigger reactions on social networks..

° TV inspires the mind :

Television is a fantastic educational tool. It broadens knowledge of different cultures, promotes tolerance and global understanding of international issues. Through current affairs, discovery, lifestyle, cooking shows and children’s programmes, television encourages scientific and cultural curiosity.

° TV delivers quality :

Thanks to the hard work of talented people on and off-screen, building on decades of experience and on new ways of working and communicating with audiences, the production quality of television programming has never been better than it is today.

° TV gives a voice to good causes :

Thanks to its unrivalled reach and emotional power, television enables effective calls for action during humanitarian crises, natural disasters and social emergencies. It reaches out to society through programmes and communication campaigns on environment, healthy eating, physical activity, responsible sexual attitudes and responsible alcohol consumption, and many others.

° TV goes hand-in-hand with sport :

Without television, professional sport would be unrecognisable. Millions enjoy watching live sport every week from all parts of the world in ever-higher picture quality, and enjoy the sense of unity that sports coverage creates. Televised sport has other benefits: it promotes sport’s values and ethics, and it inspires people to follow healthy role models.

° TV stimulates the economy :

The global media sector of which television is a major part employs millions of skilled workers across the world; over 1.2 million people are estimated to work in the audiovisual sector in the European Union alone*. In addition, the success of commercial television as an advertising medium generates revenue which can be reinvested in even more great programming for viewers.

° TV embraces the digital age :

Consumers now have more opportunities to enjoy television content than ever before. Viewers can watch on multiple screens and interact within fan communities and social platforms. The social television experience is completed with exclusive online content, pre-release of sequences before linear-TV broadcast, digital video interviews, making of videos, backstage photos and many others.

° TV reaches consumers & builds brands :

Television ensures that consumers know about new products, services, ideas and projects. It strengthens the position of existing brands and reassures consumers about the choices they make.

Africa Industrialization Day 2013, 20 November

Día de la Industrialización de África, 20 de noviembre.
El tema de 2013 es: «La creación de empleos y el desarrollo empresarial: un medio para acelerar la industrialización de África»

День индустриализации Африки, 20 ноября.
Тема Дня в 2013 году: создание рабочих мест и развитие предпринимательской деятельности как способ активизации процесса индустриализации Африки.

Journée de l’industrialisation de l’Afrique, 20 novembre.
Thème 2013 : Création d’emplois et développement de l’entreprenariat comme moyen visant à accélérer l’industrialisation en Afrique.

Africa Industrialization Day, 20 November.
Theme 2013: Job creation and entrepreneurship development: a means to accelerate industrialisation in Africa

非洲工业化日, 11月20日.
2013年主题：创造就业机会和创业发展以加速非洲工业化.
موضوع عام 2013: خلق فرص عمل وتنمية المشاريع الصغيرة لدفع عجلة التصنيع في أفريقيا

 

 

2013, Year of Pan Africanism and African Renaissance. - Celebrating Success - Afric's voice over 50 Years (1963-2013)

United Nations Secretary-General's Message for Africa Industrialization Day 2013

Job creation and entrepreneurship development: a means to accelerate industrialisation in Africa

On this year’s Africa Industrialization Day, we are highlighting the crucial role of job creation and entrepreneurship in eradicating poverty.
Although Africa is home to some of the world’s fastest growing economies – with growth across a variety of sectors – too many people are still being left behind.  The region is affected by widespread unemployment – particularly among youth.  Many, especially women, are engaged in vulnerable forms of work with low and unstable pay.
As we strive to meet the Millennium Development Goals and shape the post-2015 agenda, we must address the challenges of joblessness, youth unemployment and the shortcomings of a large informal economy.  By focusing on job creation, entrepreneurship and the promotion of small and medium enterprises, we can boost inclusive and sustainable industrial development across the continent.
Africa’s economic dynamism, young population and potential for innovation form the foundation for stronger and competitive industries. As we mark this 50th anniversary year of the establishment of the Organization of African Unity, the United Nations renews our commitment to Africa’s development and the African Union’s efforts to achieve inclusive growth. 
Let us work together to foster job creation and entrepreneurship throughout the continent as critical ways to build a more prosperous and sustainable future for all.

Ban Ki-moon 

 This year’s Africa Industrialisation Day highlights the crucial role of job creation and entrepreneurship in eradicating poverty and will be observed in New York on 22 November 2013.

 

 Join the Forum : Africa Industrialization Day - November 20.

Universal Children's Day 2013, November 20th.

• Universal Children's Day, 20 November.
• Día Universal del Niño, 20 de noviembre.
• Всемирный день ребенка, 20 ноября.
• Journée mondiale de l’enfance, 20 novembre.
• 国际儿童日,11月20日.
• اليوم العالمي للطفل - 20 تشرين الثاني

By resolution 836(IX) of 14 December 1954, the General Assembly recommended that all countries institute a Universal Children's Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children. It recommended that the Day was to be observed also as a day of activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the Charter and the welfare of the children of the world. The Assembly suggested to governments that the Day be observed on the date and in the way which each considers appropriate. The date 20 November, marks the day on which the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989.

In 2000 world leaders outlined the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015. Though the Goals are for all humankind, they are primarily about children. UNICEF notes that six of the eight goals relate directly to children and meeting the last two will also make critical improvements in their lives.

At the 2013 UN Treaty Event, which were held 24–26, and 30 September and 1 October at New York Headquarters, United Nations officials urged Member States, which have not done so, to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Child and its three Optional Protocols, stressing that this is vital to protect children from abuse and mistreatment worldwide.

 

Additional Resources

UN Global Issues - Children
CyberSchoolBus
MDG Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education
MDG Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality
20 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
The State of the World’s Children 2009: Maternal and Newborn Health
Voices of Youth
UNICEF and Say Yes for children
UN Study on Violence against Children (UNICEF | OHCHR)
UN Special Session on Children
GA on Children
World Summit for Children
The UN Works for Children
Securing the future – advocating for children (UNAIDS)