August 02, 2021 No comments
General Assembly creates new Permanent Forum of People of African Descent
INTERNATIONAL, 2 August 2021, Human Rights - Capping years of deliberations, the UN General Assembly on Monday established a new platform to improve the lives of Afro-descendants, who have for centuries suffered the ills of racism, racial discrimination and the legacy of enslavement around the globe. The 193-member body unanimously adopted a resolution establishing the United Nations Permanent Forum of People of African Descent, a 10-member advisory body that will work closely with the Geneva-based Human Rights Council. The new Forum will serve as a consultation mechanism for people of African descent and other stakeholders, and contribute to the elaboration of a UN declaration – a “first step towards a legally binding instrument” on the promotion and full respect of the rights of people of African descent. ‘Compounding...
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August 02, 2021 No comments
WHO backs football body FIFA’s #ReachOut campaign for mental health
INTERNATIONAL, 2 August 2021, Health - The world football body, FIFA, launched a UN-backed campaign on Monday designed to raise awareness of potentially damaging mental health issues, and encourage people everywhere to seek help when they need it. The #ReachOut campaign, has teamed up with the World Health Organization (WHO), and the influential Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to underscore how important it is to spot symptoms of deteriorating mental health early. In a joint press release with WHO, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, said: “This campaign is very important in raising awareness about mental health conditions and encouraging a conversation which could save a life. “In FIFA’s Vision 2020-2023, we pledge our commitment to make football work for society, and I thank the players and Ms....
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August 02, 2021 No comments
Breastfeeding central to eliminating child malnutrition: Agency chiefs
INTERNATIONAL, 2 August 2021, Health - Two senior UN officials are urging Governments to make breastfeeding-friendly environments a priority, in line with commitments made earlier this year to accelerate global progress on malnutrition. Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), issued the reminder in a joint statement for World Breastfeeding Week, which runs through 7 August. A central role They recalled that Governments, donors, civil society and the private sector, united to launch the Nutrition for Growth Year of Action, describing it as an historic opportunity to transform the way the world can fulfil the global commitment to eliminate child malnutrition. “Breastfeeding is central to realising this commitment,” they said. “Initiation of breastfeeding within the first...
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August 02, 2021 No comments
Lace up and join the UN to help win #TheHumanRace against climate change
INTERNATIONAL, 2 August 2021, Humanitarian Aid - The United Nations is encouraging everyone across the world to participate in the literal race against the climate emergency. UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, on Monday launched #TheHumanRace, a global challenge to show solidarity with people in the most disaster-prone countries and those hardest hit by climate change. ‘A race we can win’ Organized in partnership with the popular exercise app Strava, the challenge encourages participants to log 100 minutes of physical activity, and culminates in the week of World Humanitarian Day, celebrated annually on 19 August. “The climate emergency is a race we are losing, but it is a race we can win … let’s lace up our running shoes and win the climate race for us all,” said UN Secretary-General António...
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August 01, 2021 No comments
A year after the Beirut explosions: a UN Resident Coordinator blog
INTERNATIONAL, 1 August 2021, Humanitarian Aid - On August 4th, 2020, a devastating blast in a warehouse destroyed much of the centre of the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Many neighbourhoods were destroyed, downtown Beirut looked like a war zone. Thousands were injured and some 200 people tragically lost their lives on that day and the days that followed. For many, their property and livelihoods were literally blown away. Najat Rochdi the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon spoke to UN News about how the country has coped over the last 12 months and what the future holds. “I had only been in my new position of UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon for three days when the devastating explosions ripped through Beirut Port. The...
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