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International Women's Day

8 March 2011

One hundred years ago, when the world first commemorated International Women's Day, gender equality and women's empowerment were largely radical ideas. On this centenary, we celebrate the significant progress that has been achieved through determined advocacy, practical action and enlightened policy making. Yet, in too many countries and societies, women remain second-class citizens. Although the gender gap in education is closing, there are wide differences within and across countries, and far too many girls are still denied schooling, leave prematurely or complete school with few skills and…

World Day of Social Justice

21 February 2011

Social justice is more than an ethical imperative, it is a foundation for national stability and global prosperity. Equal opportunity, solidarity and respect for human rights -- these are essential to unlocking the full productive potential of nations and peoples. The World Day of Social Justice is a call for all countries to take concrete actions that give meaning to the universal values of human dignity and opportunity for all. The focus of this year's commemoration - achieving social protection for all - is critical to building fairer, more inclusive and equitable societies.&nb…

International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

27 January 2011

Watch video Each year, the international community unites in memory of the Holocaust and reflects on the lessons that we all must heed. It is a vitally important annual observance. On the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest and most notorious of the Nazi death camps, we remember the millions of Jews, as well as the prisoners of war, political dissidents, and members of minority groups, such as the Roma and Sinti, homosexuals and disabled people, who were systematically murdered by the Nazis and their sympathisers. This year, we pay special tribute to t…

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: Message on International Day of Tolerance

16 November 2010

Tolerance is the foundation for mutual respect among people and communities, and is vital for building a single global society around shared values. It is a virtue and a quality, but above all, tolerance is an act - the act of reaching out to others and seeing differences not as barriers, but as invitations for dialogue and understanding. Tolerance is especially necessary to guard against the politics of polarization, at a time when stereotypes, ignorance and hatred threaten to tear the delicate fabric of increasingly diverse societies. Today's world is more closely tied tha…

Kirchner, a Multilateralist

30 October 2010 | Op-ed

The premature death of former president Néstor Kirchner is a great loss not only for Argentina, but for the entire international community. Kirchner was a friend of the United Nations and a national and international leader who firmly believed in true multilateralism. A long and distinguished career in public service, which included being intendent of his home town Río Gallegos and governor of Santa Cruz, prepared him well for the challenges he would face early into his presidency. From 2003 to 2007, he boldly tackled the effects of the deepest financial and economic crisis in Argentina's hist…

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: Message for United Nations Day

25 October 2010

On United Nations Day, I express my great appreciation to the millions of people throughout the world who believe deeply in our work for peace, development and human rights... and who uphold our ideals and help us achieve our goals. To all of you... friends and fellow citizens of the world... I say: thank you. Sixty-five years ago on this date, the founding Charter of the United Nations entered into force. Every year on UN Day, we reaffirm our global mission. We reassert the universal values of tolerance, mutual respect and human dignity. And we recognize the progress w…

World Statistics Day

19 October 2010

Complete message by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon…

International Day for Disaster Reduction

13 October 2010

Biggest, deadliest, worst ever. We have seen those words in the headlines too often this year. We have used them about earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and forest fires, about loss of life and income. Those words are likely to be heard for years to come, as the climate changes and hazards multiply. To complicate the picture, just as weather patterns have altered, so has human society. We are more urban. If earthquakes, floods or storm surges were deadly in the past, they are deadlier still in an increasingly urbanized world. Many cities are on the coasts, vul…

International Literacy Day

8 September 2010

This year's observance of International Literacy Day highlights the central role of literacy in the empowerment of women. Literacy transforms the lives of women, their families, communities and societies. Literate women are more likely to send their children, especially their girls, to school. By acquiring literacy, women become more economically self-reliant and more actively engaged in their country's social, political and cultural life. All evidence shows that investment in literacy for women yields high development dividends. Women's literacy has gained greater prom…

World Humanitarian Day

19 August 2010

On World Humanitarian Day, we renew our commitment to life-saving relief efforts -- and remember those who died while serving this noble cause. People who have lived through terrible events are often left with nothing. No family; no food; no shelter; no job. Not even a passport or ID paper. Nothing. Humanitarian workers help them get back on their feet to restart their lives. Aid workers are the envoys we send to show our solidarity with suffering. They represent what is best in human nature. But their work is dangerous. Often, they venture to some of the most perilous places on earth. And o…

International Youth Day

12 August 2010

This year's commemoration of International Youth Day also marks the launch of the International Year of Youth, under the theme "Dialogue and Mutual Understanding". Today's challenging social and economic environment warrant a special focus on youth. Eighty-seven per cent of people aged 15 to 24 live in developing countries. The global economic crisis has had a disproportionate impact on young people; they have lost jobs, struggled to find even low-wage employment and seen access to education curtailed. As economies slowly begin to stabilize, the needs of young people should be paramount. This …

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

9 August 2010

The world's indigenous peoples have preserved a vast amount of humanity's cultural history. Indigenous peoples speak a majority of the world's languages, and have inherited and passed on a wealth of knowledge, artistic forms and religious and cultural traditions. On this International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, we reaffirm our commitment to their wellbeing. The landmark United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the General Assembly in 2007, lays out a framework for governments to use in strengthening relationships with indigenous peoples and protec…

Nelson Mandela Day

18 July 2010

Nelson Mandela is a towering figure. He embodies the highest values of humanity, and of the United Nations. His life, his strength and his decency are an example to us all. He fought his oppressors for years. And then, he forgave them. I am lucky enough to have met Nelson Mandela. Like so many others, I was struck by his charisma and charm. But I was most impressed by his humility. When I tried to thank him for his life's work, he replied: "It was not me." He preferred to talk about what other people had done in the struggle for human rights and …

World Population Day

11 July 2010

This year, some 60 countries are collecting data and counting people as part of the 2010 census process. A census is the only statistical operation that covers the whole population and all areas of a country. UNFPA - the United Nations Population Fund - and other partners are supporting this massive effort in many parts of the world. Access to good data is a component of good governance, transparency and accountability. Population data helps leaders and policy-makers to make informed decisions about policies and programmes to reduce poverty and hunger, and advance education, health and ge…

International Day of Cooperatives

3 July 2010

With an egalitarian ethos, participatory decision-making, common ownership and commitment to goals beyond the profit motive, cooperatives are expanding opportunities for women in local economies and societies throughout the world. As the theme of this year's observance puts it so well: "Cooperative enterprise empowers women." As the world economy continues to face many difficult challenges, cooperatives are providing a valuable service to many women, especially those in vulnerable communities that lack state services or traditional private sector initiatives. Through membership in cooperativ…

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

26 June 2010

As we prepare for this September's United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals, we must recognize the major impediment to development posed by drug abuse and illicit trafficking. As this year's theme stresses, it is time to "Think Health, Not Drugs". Drug abuse poses significant health challenges. Injecting drug use is a leading cause of the spread of HIV. In some parts of the world, heroin use and HIV have reached epidemic proportions. Drug control - including prevention and measures to reduce the harmful effects of drug use - is therefore an important part of the battle to …

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

26 June 2010

Torture is a crime under international law. The prohibition of torture is absolute and unambiguous. Torture cannot be justified under any circumstances whatsoever, whether during a state of war or in response to terrorism, political instability or any other public emergency. And yet, torture is still practiced or tolerated by many States. Impunity persists for the perpetrators. The victims continue to suffer. The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is an occasion to underscore the internationally-recognized right of all men and women to live free from torture. It is an opp…

United Nations Public Service Day

23 June 2010

On the annual observance of Public Service Day, we pay tribute to public servants everywhere who have improved the lives of others in their communities. Public service is not always an easy career choice to make, but it can be immensely rewarding for the opportunity it offers to get involved in addressing the challenges of our times. In an era of increasingly complex challenges, from climate change to food insecurity and the financial and economic crisis, the world needs its public servants to be more creative and talented than ever. Through this year's United Nations Public Servi…

255 search results. Displaying 20 per page.