October 23, 2018 No comments
‘Never give up’: UN chief’s message for 2018 UN Day
INTERNATIONAL, 23 October 2018, Peace and Security - Marking the 2018 United Nations Day, which falls on 24 October, Secretary-General António Guterres is urging the men and women of the UN, and those they serve, to “never give up” tackling the world’s many challenges. In a video released in advance of UN Day, Mr. Guterres said that, despite the odds and obstacles, and growing inequality “we don’t give up because we know by reducing inequality we increase hope and opportunity and peace around the world.” The UN chief made clear the Organization’s determination to implement climate action, fight for human rights and the life of peace that everyone deserves to enjoy: “On United Nations Day, let us reaffirm our commitment. To repair broken trust. To heal...
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October 22, 2018 No comments
‘Many challenges to overcome’ at UN, in fight against abuse: victims’ advocate
INTERNATIONAL, 22 October 2018, Human Rights - The UN is committed to recognizing the rights of victims of sexual exploitation by UN personnel but, when it comes to preventing and responding to abuse, there is a still “a long way to go, and many challenges to overcome,” says the UN’s first-ever Victims’ Rights Advocate Jane Connors. Ms. Connors’ post was established by the UN Secretary-General in 2017, a year that saw 62 allegations of abuse by UN personnel. Her role – ensuring that the rights and dignity of victims are at the forefront of the fight against sexual exploitation and abuse – is part of António Guterres’s strategy to transform the UN’s approach to preventing and combating sexual exploitation and abuse by UN staffers. Her work has been supported...
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October 22, 2018 No comments
Many deaths can be avoided with better data: UN deputy chief
INTERNATIONAL, 22 October 2018, SDGs - Speaking at the opening session of the UN World Data Forum on Monday, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed highlighted the life-saving impact that data can have, noting that better data and forecasting could have averted many deaths from natural disasters. “While it is clear that the data revolution is having an enormous impact, it has not benefited everyone equally,” said Ms. Mohammed, adding that, to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), better and bigger data is needed: “With accurate, representative, inclusive and disaggregated data, we can understand the challenges we face, and identify the most appropriate solutions for sustainable development. The UN deputy chief outlined other ways that data can improve lives: “It means students can find out about job opportunities and women can learn about...
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October 22, 2018 No comments
Governments, businesses ‘walk the talk’ for investment in sustainable development: UN forum
INTERNATIONAL, 22 October 2018, SDGs - Business and government leaders from around the world have gathered at a major United Nations conference in Geneva, in search of innovative and strategic solutions to complex investment and development challenges. The 2018 World Investment Forum, organized by UNCTAD, the primary UN agency on trade and development, comes against the backdrop of declining investment flows around the world and concern over how that is affecting sustainable development, according to the agency. It is now time “to walk the talk” and scale up private investments in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) said UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi, welcoming over 6,000 participants from more than 160 countries, to the Forum. “The remarkable turnout at this year’s Forum bears witness to the critical need for this global platform to...
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October 22, 2018 No comments
Ebola in DR Congo: UN chief ‘outraged’ by recent killings of civilians and health workers
INTERNATIONAL, 22 October 2018, Peace and Security - The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres said on Monday he is “outraged by the continued killing and abduction of civilians by armed groups” near Beni, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)’s North Kivu region, which has been grappling with an Ebola outbreak since August. Mr. Guterres condemned Saturday's attack in the town of Mayongose on the outskirts of Beni, in which at least 11 civilians were killed, and several more were injured and abducted. He said he is also “deeply troubled” by reports that on Friday, two Congolese health workers helping to combat the Ebola outbreak, were killed in Butembo by armed militia. Such attacks continue to hamper humanitarian access in the conflict-torn region and prevent health workers from tackling...
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