'Nothing enduring can be built on violence,' UN Assembly President says, recalling words of Gandhi
2 October 2017 – Noting that in today's world, violence has become a tool of choice for many and new evidence, of destruction and suffering, every day resulting from this choice, the President of the United Nations General Assembly has called for greater efforts to prevent conflict and for the Organization to promote the use of non-violence across all three pillars of its work.
. It can turn parties away from conflict, towards compromise, said Miroslav Laj?ák, speaking at an event to mark the?.
Over half of schools remain closed in epicentre of Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria – UNICEF
29 September 2017 – About 57 per cent of all schools are closed in Nigeria's Borno state, worst hit by the Boko Haram insurgency and the subsequent humanitarian crisis, leaving an estimated 3 million children in need of emergency education support, even as the new school year begins, the United Nations child agency said today.
Children in northeast Nigeria are living through?, said Justin Forsyth, Deputy Executive Director of the UN Children's Fund (), in a press release on his three-day visit to Maiduguri, the epicentre of the crisis.
UNAI Digital Discussion Series on Sustainable Tourism: Think Globally, Act Locally
Our digital discussion series on sustainable tourism continues with an interview with Diane Lion Giustiniani, manager of Bambu Indah hotel in Bali, Indonesia. Bambu Indah is a hotel committed to the Think globally, act locally campaign that aims to protect the planet and empower local communities. In relation to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12—Responsible Consumption and Production—Bambu Indah practices various eco-friendly initiatives including the use of a greywater filtration system, recycling waste management and serving locally produced foods.
UNAI Digital Discussion Series on Sustainable Tourism: Sustainable Tourism as an Economic Driver
Our digital discussion series on sustainable tourism begins with an interview with Kelly Bricker—Professor and Director of the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism at the University of Utah, USA. For over 30 years, Professor Bricker has conducted research on heritage tourism, natural resource-related tourism environments and the socioeconomic impacts of tourism. She claims that sustainable tourism is an enormous economic driver, an argument which relates to Sustainable Development Goal 8 (Promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth, employment and decent work for all). ?
UNAI Presents Digital Discussion Series on Sustainable Tourism
The year 2017 has been designated as the Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations. Aligning with this focus, the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) will publish a new digital discussion series on sustainable tourism. The relations between sustainable tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be the major topics of discussions of this series. Sustainable tourism, as defined by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.
This discussion series feature podcast interviews with Kelly Bricker, Professor and Director of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism at the University of Utah, USA, and Diane Lion Giustiniani, manager of Bambu Indah Hotel, Bali, Indonesia.
Torture during interrogations not just wrong but also counterproductive – UN rights chief
22 September 2017 – The torture and ill-treatment of persons suspected of crimes is not only deeply wrong but, from an interrogator's perspective, also counterproductive, the United Nations human rights chief said today at an event held in New York.
Abundant scientific and historical evidence demonstrates that the information yielded by people who are being subjected to violence is unreliable, High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein??at the event, entitled Torture during Interrogations – Illegal, Immoral, and Ineffective.
The torture of detainees, who are captive and cannot defend themselves, also creates enormous rage among their larger communities, he added. By feeding the desire for vengeance, torture produces more hatred and more violence.
Volunteering for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 23) in Bonn, Germany, Nov 2017 – Registration Now Open
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in collaboration with the United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV), is now accepting applications from volunteers to assist in the organization and facilitation of the 2017 UN Climate Change Conference, COP 23, which will take place from 6-17 November in Bonn, Germany.?
Applicants are invited to apply online now at:
UN General Assembly's annual debate to 'focus on people,' ensuring decent life for all
18 September 2017 – Global leaders gathering at United Nations Headquarters in New York this week for the annual round of top-level diplomatic talks known as the??will shine a spotlight on the needs of the world's people, with discussions on vital issues such as sustainable development and climate change, and set the stage for what the President of the UN General Assembly has dubbed a year of firsts, which will see the negotiation of the first intergovernmental compact on migration and the signing of the first agreement on the elimination of nuclear weapons.
Global hunger rising again, driven by conflict and climate change – UN report
15 September 2017 – The number of people hungry around the world is up for the first time in more than a decade, says a new United Nations report issued today, pointing to violent conflicts and climate change as the major drivers.
This has??we cannot afford to ignore: we will not end hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2030 unless we address all the factors that undermine food security and nutrition. Securing peaceful and inclusive societies is a necessary condition to that end, said the heads of five UN agencies in their joint foreword to the report.
UNICEF: Decades of progress for children at risk across Middle East and North Africa
11 September 2017 – Nearly one-in-five children across the Middle East and North Africa – over 90 per cent of whom live in conflict-affected countries – need immediate humanitarian assistance, according to new analysis by the United Nations Children's Fund ().
Conflict continues to rob millions of girls and boys of their childhood, said Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF Regional Director, in a?.
Decades of progress are at risk of being reversed across the Middle East and North Africa, he added.
UNICEF pointed out that children have been hit hardest by ongoing years of violence, displacement and lack of basic services. Civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, energy, water, sanitation and hygiene installations have often come under attack, exposing children to the risk of death and diseases.
On International Day, UN promotes online literacy in digital world
8 September 2017 – New technologies open opportunities to improve lives and connect globally, but they can also marginalize those who are illiterate and lack other essential skills needed to navigate them, a senior United Nations official today said, highlighting that some 750 million adults worldwide are not literate.
Traditionally, literacy has been considered a set of?applied in a certain context. Digitally-mediated knowledge societies are changing what it means to be literate, calling for new and higher-level literacy skills, said the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (), Irina Bokova, in her message for International Literacy Day.
UN political chief urges Security Council to 'remain united, take appropriate action' on DPR Korea
4 September 2017 – The top United Nations political official today urged the Security Council to remain united and take appropriate action against Sunday's nuclear explosive test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The latest serious developments require a comprehensive response in order to break the cycle of provocations from the DPRK, said Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, in an emergency Council meeting, noting that such a response must include wise and bold diplomacy to be effective.
Mr. Feltman, however, stressed the importance of responding to humanitarian needs regardless of the political situation as the people of the DPRK rely on the international community to provide humanitarian assistance.
Guterres says UN ready to support relief efforts in South Asia countries hit by floods, landslides
1 September 2017 – Saddened by the loss of life and the devastation caused by widespread floods and landslides due to torrential monsoon rains in Bangladesh, India and Nepal,?Secretary-General?António Guterres said today that the United Nations is ready to support ongoing relief efforts.
In a?statement?issued by a UN spokesperson, the Secretary-General extended his condolences to the Governments and the people of Bangladesh, India and Nepal and saluted the respective Governments' leadership in responding to the needs of those affected.
国产AV is… beautiful
15 August 2017 — The fourth event of the 国产AV is… series hosted by the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations took place on Friday in the lobby of the General Assembly Building at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The event, entitled 国产AV is… beautiful, celebrated friendship and the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Remarks by the Permanent Representatives of Japan and the Philippines to the United Nations opened the event. Professor Noritaka Noda of the Ikenobo Society of Floral Art then gave a demonstration of Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement. While working on his arrangement, Professor Noda elaborated on the centuries-old art of creating these arrangements, including the symbolic meaning. Following his demonstration, Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of ASEAN joined him in creating Ikebana arrangements, as did the audience.
At start of World Water Week, UN Assembly President says water and sanitation goals need 'major push'
28 August 2017 – Encouraging global action to support clean water and sanitation, United Nations General Assembly President Peter Thomson today underscored that when it comes to the environment, everything is connected.
None should imagine that the state of sanitation and coral reefs are anything but directly connected, Mr. Thomson said, delivering the??at special event in Stockholm to start World Water Week. It makes no sense to consider terrestrial environmental issues, fresh water challenges or climate change in isolation.
He urged the international community to take an inclusive, integrated approach, and put to use all skills, idea and energies.