List of content type Article

View results Filter list

Filters

258 search results. Displaying 20 per page.

Latin America needs a new relationship between state, market and society

3 Apr 2014

Over the last decade, Latin American and Caribbean countries have benefited from dynamic growth, with significant progress in the social sphere - something that has been reflected in decreasing levels of poverty and inequality. Most societies in the region have placed the need for greater equality, understood as a guiding principle through which the state should guarantee citizens' rights, as a priority on their agendas for social development. These positive trends are attributable to a combination of factors: a favourable external growth context thanks to the dynamism of China and other emerg…

International Day of Forests

21 Mar 2014

Watch video on the International Day of Forests Forests are the lungs of our planet. They cover one-third of all land area, and are home to 80 per cent of terrestrial biodiversity. They are crucial for addressing a multitude of sustainable development imperatives, from poverty eradication to food security, from mitigating and adapting to climate change to reducing disaster risk. It is estimated that 1.6 billion people depend on forests for food, fuel, shelter and income. The World Health Organization estimates that between 65 and 80 per cent of people rely on medicines …

International Women's Day

7 Mar 2014

This International Women's Day, we are highlighting the importance of achieving equality for women and girls not simply because it is a matter of fairness and fundamental human rights, but because progress in so many other areas depends on it. Countries with more gender equality have better economic growth. Companies with more women leaders perform better. Peace agreements that include women are more durable. Parliaments with more women enact more legislation on key social issues such as health, education, anti-discrimination and child support. The evidence is clear: equality…

Public-Private Partnerships for Inclusive Development in Latin America

5 Mar 2014

Over the last decade, Latin American and Caribbean countries have benefited from dynamic growth with significant progress in the social sphere, which is reflected in decreasing levels of poverty, extreme poverty and inequality. Most societies in the region have placed the need for greater equality, within a rights-based approach which should be guaranteed by the State, as a priority on their social development agenda. These positive trends have been the result of a combination of factors: a favorable external context; more sound macro-economic policies; improved conditions in the job market, s…

World Wildlife Day

3 Mar 2014

For millennia, people and cultures have relied on nature's rich diversity of wild plants and animals for food, clothing, medicine and spiritual sustenance. Wildlife remains integral to our future through its essential role in science, technology and recreation, as well as its place in our continued heritage. That is why the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 3 March - the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) - as World Wildlife Day. Despite its intrinsic value to sustainable development and hum…

World Day of Social Justice

20 Feb 2014

The gap between the poorest and the wealthiest around the world is wide and growing. This situation is not only between countries but within them, including many of the most prosperous. The World Day of Social Justice is observed to highlight the power of global solidarity to advance opportunity for all. Circumstances such as where a person is born, where they live or their gender and ethnicity should never determine their income or their opportunities for quality education, basic healthcare, decent work, adequate shelter, access to drinking water, political participation or living free …

Paths to Equality for Latin America and the Caribbean

19 Feb 2014

Latin America and the Caribbean today faces a crossroads. Historically the region has traveled a path that is barely sustainable, with insufficient growth, high levels of inequality, and little impulse toward structural change. And although it has enjoyed an auspicious decade, today the region confronts an increasingly problematic external scenario. Since 2002, poverty in Latin America has dropped 15.7 percentage points on average. Extreme poverty also fell 8.0 points, even though the pace of that decline is waning. The unemployment rate reached a historic 6.4% and the purchasing power of medi…

World Radio Day

13 Feb 2014

World Radio Day recognizes the unique role and impact of a medium that reaches the largest audience worldwide. This year's observance highlights the need for radio broadcasters everywhere to promote the voice of women and to enhance the role of women within broadcast organizations. The airwaves have frequently lagged behind when it comes to gender equality. Not nearly enough women's voices are heard, either in front or behind the microphone. Not nearly enough stories about women and girls are being told. And women make up only a quarter of the members of the boards of the world's media enterpr…

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

27 Jan 2014

Every year, on the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, we gather in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. We recall the suffering of millions of innocent people - and highlight the perils of anti-Semitism and hatred of any kind. This year we focus on journeys through the Holocaust - and I recall a recent journey of my own. Last November, I walked through the infamous "arbeit macht frei" gate at Auschwitz-Birkenau. I will never forget my visit. I saw the horrific remnants of the machinery of genocide, as well as moving images of European Jewish life in the…

Human Solidarity Day

20 Dec 2013

At the dawn of this century, at the Millennium Summit, world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to peace and security, human rights and good governance. They agreed on a set of time-bound targets, encapsulated in the Millennium Development Goals, to reducing extreme poverty, hunger, needless disease and other global social and environmental ills by 2015. And they recognized that these objectives demand that we must all practice mutual respect and accept shared responsibility. This year we mark Human Solidarity Day with the resolve to work together to bridge the remaining gap…

International Migrants Day

19 Dec 2013

International migration is a powerful tool for reducing poverty and enhancing opportunity. That is why there are now some 232 million international migrants bringing consistent benefits to countries of destination and origin through their essential labour and remittances. Yet, this important population remains largely invisible and unheard in society. Too many live and work in the worst conditions with the least access to basic services and fundamental rights, making them disproportionately vulnerable to extortion, violence, discrimination and marginalization. Almost half of migrants are women…

Human Rights Day

10 Dec 2013

Human Rights Day marks the anniversary of the adoption by the General Assembly of the landmark Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year's observance also marks 20 years since a bold step forward in the struggle to make rights a reality for all: the adoption by the World Conference on Human Rights of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. Drawing on the participation of more than 800 non-governmental organizations, national institutions, treaty bodies and academics, Member States adopted a far-reaching vision and created the Office of the High Commissioner for Human…

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

3 Dec 2013

Watch video on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities "Break Barriers, Open Doors: For an Inclusive Society for All" More than 1 billion of us live with disabilities. We must remove all barriers that affect the inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in society, including through changing attitudes that fuel stigma and institutionalize discrimination. In September, during the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on Disability and Development, United Nations Member States discussed the many ways that exclusion not only impacts the lives of persons with d…

How Cooperation between Norway and Latin America Can Help to Reduce Socioeconomic Inequalities

2 Dec 2013

How has inequality been reduced in Latin America in the past 10 years? How can we ensure a continued reduction? Is it possible to learn from the experiences of northern Europe? Researchers from ECLAC and the University of Oslo recently began long-term cooperation on economic and social matters to study advances in reducing inequality in Latin America over the past decade. It is vital to reduce inequalities in society, not only in order to achieve sustainable decreases in poverty rates, but also to mitigate conflict among different groups and promote greater consensus around national …

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

29 Nov 2013

This annual Solidarity Day is an opportunity to reflect on the critical situation faced by the Palestinian people and to consider our collective contributions and responsibilities as Governments, international or civil society organizations, towards Israeli-Palestinian peace. This year's observance takes place as Israeli and Palestinian negotiators work together towards the agreed objective of a peaceful, comprehensive settlement on all permanent status issues. I call on the international community to support the parties in this ambitious endeavour to fulfil the two-State solution…

International Day to End Violence against Women

25 Nov 2013

Watch video Violence against women and girls directly affects individuals while harming our common humanity. In response to this global challenge, I launched my UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign in 2008. Since then, partners around the world have joined our drive to protect the human rights of women and girls to live free from violence. I welcome the chorus of voices calling for an end to the violence that affects an estimated one in three women in her lifetime. I applaud leaders who are helping to enact and enforce laws and change mindsets. And I pay tribute to all those heroes ar…

International Week of Science and Peace

11 Nov 2013

The observance of the International Week of Science and Peace was proclaimed 25 years ago by the United Nations General Assembly. Science and technology have crucial roles to play in promoting progress and peace - from climate change to public health; from food security to sanitation; from disarmament to disaster preparedness. Yet too often policy-makers are not aware of the solutions that modern science and technology can bring to today's challenges. And too much of the world remains cut off from scientific advances. One key challenge is to promote "pro-poor" research that …

International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict

6 Nov 2013

A growing body of knowledge exists on the importance of the environmental dimension of sustainable development. Yet natural resources such as forests, wildlife, water sources and agricultural lands continue to be exploited and degraded during armed conflict, threatening long-term peace and security. In Central and East Africa today, illegal trafficking in minerals, wildlife, timber, charcoal and narcotics is financing illicit activities and supporting armed groups and criminal networks. In Somalia, for example, it is estimated that the illegal trade in charcoal represents annual revenue…

International Day of Rural Women

15 Oct 2013

Rural women produce much of the world's food, care for the environment and help reduce the risk of disaster in their communities. Yet they continue to face disadvantages and discrimination that prevent them from realizing their potential. For too many rural women, their daily reality is one in which they do not own the land they farm, are denied the financial services that could lift them out of poverty, and live without the guarantee of basic nutrition, health services and amenities such as clean water and sanitation. Unpaid care work imposes a heavy burden and prevents their access to decent…

International Day of the Girl Child

11 Oct 2013

Empowering girls, ensuring their human rights and addressing the discrimination and violence they face are essential to progress for the whole human family. One of the best ways to achieve all of these goals is to provide girls with the education they deserve. Yet too many girls in too many countries are held back simply because of their gender. Those whose mother was also deprived of an education, who live in a poor community, or who have a disability face an even steeper climb. Among girls who do make it to school, many face discrimination and violence. I launched the Global Education First …

258 search results. Displaying 20 per page.