International Day of Peacekeepers is observed on May 29 27 May 2013
This year’s International Day of Peacekeepers is an opportunity to raise awareness about new developments in the field while honouring those who lost their lives over the past year serving under the blue flag. United Nations peacekeeping is increasingly called on to deploy multi–dimensional operations to help countries transition from conflict to peace, with a significant focus on protecting civilians, including the most vulnerable among them: women and children.
Global economic growth still sluggish, with prospect of gradual improvement – UN report 24 May 2013
Global economic growth will continue to be “below potential” this year, according to a report released today by the United Nations that adds that job creation will be vital to spur recovery. The UN World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2013 mid–year update notes that, since late 2012, new policy initiatives in major developed economies have reduced systemic risks and helped stabilize consumer, business and investor confidence, but with very limited improvement in economic growth.
International Day for Biological Diversity - May 22 22 May 2013
As the international community strives to accelerate its efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and define a post–2015 agenda, including a set of goals for sustainable development, water and biodiversity are important streams in the discussion. Although seemingly abundant, only a tiny amount of the water on our planet is easily available as freshwater. We live in an increasingly water insecure world where demand often outstrips supply and where water quality often fails to meet minimum standards. Under current trends, future demands for water will not be met.
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 21 May 2013
Less than one thousand days from the 2015 deadline of the Millennium Development Goals, we must do everything to accelerate progress. Culture and cultural diversity are not part of the internationally–recognized development goals – but they are key accelerators for meeting them. In this new age of limits, human ingenuity and innovation is one of our most powerful and renewable energies.
Road safety is on the agenda of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 17 May 2013
The theme for World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2013 is “ICTs and improving road safety”. ICTs play a catalytic role in creating opportunities for people in every walk of life. Today, even as we take to the streets in our vehicles, we have the tools at our fingertips to communicate across the world, navigate through dense traffic and find our way in unfamiliar terrain. At the same time we can choose from a host of entertainment options, be it music, radio, television or social media.
WHO statistics show narrowing health gap between countries with best and worst health status 17 May 2013
15 May 2013 | Geneva–The world has made dramatic progress in improving health in the poorest countries and narrowing the gaps between countries with the best and worst health status in the past two decades, according to the World Health Statistics 2013. The WHO annual statistics report highlights how efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have reduced health gaps between the most–advantaged and least–advantaged countries.
International Day of Families - "Advancing social integration and intergenerational solidarity" 15 May 2013
Families hold societies together, and intergenerational relationships extend this legacy over time. This year’s International Day of Families is an occasion to celebrate connections among all members of the constellation that makes up a family. It is also an opportunity to reflect on how they are affected by social and economic trends – and what we can do to strengthen families in response.
Secretary-General's video message for Global Road Safety Week 08 May 2013
Each year, nearly 1.3 million people die, and as many as 50 million are injured, in road traffic accidents. More than a quarter million killed are pedestrians. That is why the theme of this year’s Global Road Safety Week is “Make Walking Safe”. We must also make driving safer for young adults, who account for more than half of traffic fatalities.
Accidents are the world’s leading cause of death for those between 15 and 29 years old.
World Press Freedom Day – Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media 02 May 2013 Secretary-General's Message for World Press Freedom Day 2013
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is a cornerstone of good governance, sustainable development, and lasting peace and security. Yet every day around the world, journalists and media workers are under attack. They face intimidation, threats and violence from governments, corporations, criminals or other forces that wish to silence or censor.
Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare 29 April 2013 Secretary–General's Message for 2013
This annual Day of Remembrance is designated by the international community to remember and pay respects to all victims of chemical warfare. This year’s observance is especially timely, as the spectre of chemical weapons is once again casting its ominous shadow. Recent allegations of the use of these indiscriminate and morally repugnant weapons in Syria serve as a reminder of the continuing vital importance of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
27 years after the Chernobyl disaster 26 April 2013 STATEMENT BY THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY–GENERAL 27 YEARS AFTER THE CHERNOBYL DISASTER
As we today mark 27 years after the Chernobyl disaster, we honour the emergency workers who risked their lives responding to the accident, the more than 330,000 people uprooted from their homes and the millions of people living in contaminated areas who have long been traumatized by lingering fears about their health and livelihoods. The countless women, men and children affected by radioactive contamination must never be forgotten.
Crisis puts European Social Model to serious test 10 April 2013
9th European Regional Meeting
OSLO, 8 April (ILO News) — The 9th European Regional Meeting of the International Labour Organization (ILO) opened here today with an urgent call for effective employment and social policies that can achieve growth and competitiveness with good jobs.
Secretary General Message on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 21 March 2013
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this year focuses on using the power of sport to end the blight of racism. It is an opportunity to highlight the sharp contrast between the positive values of sports and the despicable incidents of racism that scar even some professional competitions.
International Narcotics Control Board Annual Report for 2012 published 05 March 2013 Message from the President of INCB
Shared responsibility is an essential element of global drug control efforts. INCB stresses the need to uphold the international drug control conventions, if suffering caused by drug abuse and drug–related crime and violence is to be prevented.
Secretary-General's Message for World Day of Social Justice 2013 21 February 2013
As we mark World Day of Social Justice, we see far too many places where there are increasing opportunities for a few and only rising inequality for the many.Secretary-General's Message for 2013. Growing inequality undermines the international community’s progress in lifting millions out of poverty and building a more just world.
Secretary-General's message for World Radio Day 08 February 2013
Since its invention more than 100 years ago, radio has sparked the imagination, opened doors for change, and served as a channel for life–saving information. Radio entertains, educates, and informs. It promotes democratic expression and influences ideas. From short–wave to FM to satellite transmission – radio connects people wherever they are. In conflict situations and times of crisis, radio is a lifeline for vulnerable communities.
Secretary-General's message for Interfaith Harmony Week on 1-7 February 04 February 2013
For billions of people around the world, faith is an essential foundation of life.
It provides strength in times of difficulty and an important sense of community. The vast majority of people of faith live in harmony with their neighbours, whatever their creed, but each religion also harbours a strident minority prepared to assert fundamentalist doctrines through bigotry and extreme violence.
World’s youth facing worsening unemployment, warns new UN report 22 January 2013
Global unemployment rose in 2012 amid continuing economic insecurity and insufficient policies stifling overall hiring, a new report by the United Nations labour agency has warned, adding that the world’s youth were most vulnerable to the growing job scarcity. n its annual Global Employment Trends report, released today, the International Labour Organization (ILO) notes that despite the positive trend of falling unemployment over the past two years, the number of unemployed worldwide rose by 4.2 million in 2012 with gloomy expectations of a further increase in 2013.
Economic performance in Commonwealth of Independent States is weakening — UN 17 January 2013
Economic growth in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Georgia, measured by aggregate Gross Domestic Product—GDP—rose by around 3.8 per cent in 2012 and growth is expected
to remain at a similar level 2013, well below potential, as the world economy continues to provide a difficult background for the economies of the region, said a UN annual economic report, World Economic Situation and Prospects 2013 (WESP), that was launched today.
WB urges developing countries to safeguard economic growth, as road ahead remains bumpy 15 January 2013 WASHINGTON, January 15, 2013 – Four years after the onset of the global financial crisis, the world economy remains fragile and growth in high–income countries is weak. Developing countries need to focus on raising the growth potential of their economies, while strengthening buffers to deal with risks from the Euro Area and fiscal policy in the United States, says the World Bank in the newly–released Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report.
