SDGs

Students in Primary Seven at Zanaki Primary School in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, during an English language class.
Sarah Farhat/World Bank

‘Our values, beliefs and identity’ are embedded within language, UNESCO says on Mother Language Day

21 February 2018
Global

Every two weeks, one of the world’s languages disappears, along with the human history and cultural heritage that accompanies it, the chief of the United Nations cultural agency warned on Wednesday, calling for greater efforts to preserve and promote mother languages and indigenous languages, to bolster inclusion, diversity and ultimately, sustainable development.

Six-year-old Asmah Mohamad, who was forced to undergo the painful FGM/C procedure, is is comforted by her mother Bedria. © UNICEF/NYHQ2005-2229/Getachew

With rising number of girls at risk, world in 'race against time' to end female genital mutilation – UN

6 February 2018
Global

Female genital mutilation is a violent act that, among other things, causes infection, disease, childbirth complications and death, said the Executive Directors of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in a joint statement for the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

Olivia Nankindu, 27, surveys the fruits of her labor in the waning afternoon sunlight on her farm near Kyotera, Uganda.
Stephan Gladieu/World Bank

Development indicators trending downward for world's poorest countries, UN warns

5 February 2018

The least developed countries (LDCs) – nations categorized as requiring special attention from the international community – will fall short of goals set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development unless urgent action is taken, new United Nations analysis has revealed.

Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed (left) and Jayathma Wickramanayake, the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, in conversation during the opening of the 2018 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Without young people, Global Goals will not be achieved, UN forum told

30 January 2018

Today's young people are more connected, dynamic and engaged than ever and the Global Goals can’t happen without them, speakers told an annual United Nations forum, where young leaders called on the Organization keep its promise to ‘leave no one behind’ on the road to creating a prosperous wolrd for everyone on a clean planet.

In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Moussa Faki, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, sign a Framework Agreement between the two organizations.
UN Photo/Antonio Fiorente

In Addis Ababa, Guterres says partnership with African Union is fundamental to work of the UN

27 January 2018
Africa

Strong cooperation with the African Union (AU) is essential for the United Nations to be able to fulfill its mandate, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Saturday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the two organizations signed a new agreement to bolster their collaboration on range of global issues.

Secretary-General António Guterres presenting his second report on the repositioning of the UN development system to deliver on the 2030 Agenda.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

UN chief outlines reforms that ‘put Member States in driver’s seat’ on road to sustainable development

22 January 2018

Sustainable development is a fundamental human right and humanity’s best chance for a future of peace and prosperity, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday, laying out the case for Agenda 2030 to be at the centre of UN activities.