International Day for Biological Diversity 22 May
22 May is the International Day for Biological Diversity. The United Nations General Assembly, by its resolution 55/201 of 20 December 2000, proclaimed 22 May as The International Day for Biological Diversity, to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. T
This year theme is Water and Biodiversity which was chosen to coincide with the United Nations designation of 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation. The theme speaks to the important role of biodiversity and ecosystems in providing for water security, and therefore for sustainable development.
- Secretary General’s Message
- Official Documents
- More Resources
The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/57/249 in December 2002 and celebrated on 21 May, provides an opportunity for mobilization on the part of all actors (governments, policy makers, civil society organizations, communities, cultural professionals to promote culture in its diversity and in all its forms: tangible and intangible heritage, creative industries, goods and services.
Twelfth Session of the Permanent Forum
The twelfth session of the Permanent Forum of Indigenous Peoples is being held in New York between 20 - 31 May 2013.The Forum is an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.
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According to its mandate, the Permanent Forum will:
- provide expert advice and recommendations on indigenous issues to the Council, as well as to programmes, funds and agencies of the United Nations, through the Council
- raise awareness and promote the integration and coordination of activities related to indigenous issues within the UN system
- prepare and disseminate information on indigenous issues
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For more information see:
21 May is International Day of Forests
The International Day of Forests and the Tree is held annually on 21 March to raise awareness of sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/67/200 of 21 December 2012, which declared that starting in 2013, 21 March of each year was to be observed as the International Day of Forests and the Tree.
The resolution encourages all Member States to organize activities relating to all types of forests, and trees outside forests, such as tree-planting campaigns.
More information:
UNESCO REPORT 2012
The UNESCO 2012 report focused much of its energy on Education. Highlights in 2012 included the Shanghai International TVET Congress, the first Africa Forum on Science and Technology and Innovations in Nairobi, The celebration of the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention.
Search UNESCO catalogue for Previous reports:
Economic Report on Africa 2013
This years report discussed amongst other topics , making the most of Africa’s commodities, industrializing for growth, jobs and economic transformation
Download in English- Fulltext PDF
Doha Climate Change Conference - 2012
The 18th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC and the 8th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol opened on Monday, 26 November and continued until Saturday, 8 December 2012 at the Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha, Qatar.
More Resources:
UN World Tourism Organization records one billion tourists
13 December 2012 – As the estimated number of tourists travelling this year hits a record one billion today, the United Nations agency focused on world tourism unveiled a tip-laden campaign aimed at letting travellers know how they can best benefit the people and places they visit.
The One Billion Tourists: One Billion Opportunities campaign of the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO) shows tourists that respecting local culture, preserving heritage or buying local goods when travelling can make a big difference.
International tourist arrivals grew by over 4% in 2011 to 982 million
In 2011, international tourism generated US$ 1.030 billion (€ 740 billion) in export earnings
UNWTO forecasts a growth in international tourist arrivals of between 3% and 4% in 2012
For the latest trends in international tourism: UNWTO World Tourism Barometer
For an overview of tourism in 2011: UNWTO Tourism Highlights
For country data on tourism, its industries, employment and more: UNWTO Compendium
UN Department of Political Affairs-(DPA) Multi-Year Appeal 2013 Update
The United Nations Department of Political Affairs plays a central role in United Nations efforts to prevent and resolve conflict around the world. In order to carry out its mandate effectively, the Department relies on funding through the regular UN budget and through additional, voluntary contributions of donors.
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Responding in a timely manner to situations of potential violent conflict.
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Providing effective and timely support to political missions and special envoys in the field.
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Enhancing the capacity of Regional and sub-Regional Organizations.
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Strengthening DPA’s capacity and expertise to address peace and security challenges more effectively, including through the provision of mediation support to Special Envoys and the development of conflict prevention tools.
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Enhancing the capacity of stakeholders requesting electoral assistance to strengthen their democratic processes and prevent election-related violence.
Human Rights Day, 10 December
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted on 10 December 1948. The date has since served to mark Human Rights Day worldwide. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, as the main UN rights official, and her Office play a major role in coordinating efforts for the yearly observance of Human Rights Day.
Documents:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
To participate in this years day see: events
International Anti-Corruption - Day 9 December
In Resolution A/RES/58/4 the General Assembly designated 9 December as International Anti-Corruption Day, to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the Convention in combating and preventing it. The Convention entered into force in December 2005.
Official Documents:
General Assembly Documents
ECOSOC documents
The humanitarian impact of Israeli settlement policies.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the occupied Palestinian territory has issued the recent factsheet on the impact of Israeli settlement policies.
Available Fulltext. PDF, the fact sheet provides most recent information on the humanitarian impact of Israeli settlement policies.
Official documents:
Source: unocha.org
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
The international Day of Persons with disabilities is observed every 3rd of December. This years’ theme is: “Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all.”
Background
Today,the world population is over 7 billion people. More than one billion people, or approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population, live with some form of disability. 80 per cent live in developing countries.
International Instruments
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities(2006)
- Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (1993)
- Principles for the protection of persons with mental illness and the improvement of mental health care (1991)
- World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons (1982)
- Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons (1975)
- Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons (1971)
Secretary General’s Message - 2012
official Documents:
2 December is International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December, marks the date of the adoption, by the General Assembly, of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (resolution 317(IV) of 2 December 1949).
Resources:
General Assembly Resolutions
Economic and Social Council Resolutions
Secretary General’s Reports
International Instruments
- Convention on the Rights of the Child: Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (2000) [A/RES/54/263]
- United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime: Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (2000) [A/RES/55/25]
- Recommendation on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages (1965) [A/RES/2018 (XX)]
- Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages (1962) [A/RES/1763 (XVII)]
- Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery (1956)
- Protocol amending the Slavery Convention signed at Geneva on 25 September 1926 (1953)
- Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (1949) [A/RES/317 (IV)]
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) [A/RES/217 (III)]
- Slavery Convention (1926)
- Additional Declarations and Conventions on Human Rights
International Labor Organization Conventions
1 December - 2012- World Aids Day
World AIDS Day is celebrated around the world on December 1st each year. It has become one of the most recognized international health days since 2004. The day provides a key opportunity to raise awareness, commemorate those who have passed on, and celebrate victories, such as increased access to treatment and prevention services.
Resources:
Documents
Resolutions:
UNAIDS Reports:
- 2012 UNAIDS World AIDS Day Report
- 2011 UNAIDS World AIDS Day Report
- UNAIDS Outlook 2010
- Agenda for Accelerated Country Action for Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV
- Children and AIDS: Fourth Stocktaking Report, 2009
- UNAIDS Outcome Framework 2009-2011 “Joint Action for Results”
Guidelines on construction of core indicators (2010 reporting) - What countries need: Investments needed for 2010 targets
- AIDS Outlook 2009
- Report on the global AIDS epidemic
Declarations:
- Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS: Intensifying Our Efforts to Eliminate HIV and AIDS (2011)
- Ministerial Declaration adopted at the first meeting of Ministers of Health and Education to stop HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections in Latin America and the Caribbean “Prevention through education”
- Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS
- Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS
