UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock says jazz is a universal language that does not need translation.
The legendary musician is taking part in a special concert, along with several other big name performers to mark the first International Jazz Day on 30 April.
Mr. Hancock is one of a number of musicians performing at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York.
A two-day United Nations-backed conference focused on developing a better global future through the power of storytelling and documentary film.
The conference is a partnership between the Creative Community Outreach Initiative of the UN Department of Public Information (DPI), the Independent Filmmaker Project and the Ford Foundation. It was founded on the shared belief that storytelling and documentary film can be powerful tools in building a better future for all people.
This generation of youth is the largest in history and it is also the focus of the 45th session of the Commission on Population and Development.
The Secretary-General says the world’s young people have their eyes wide open. They are informed as never before. They are connected to one another. And they care.
That is why Ban Ki-moon says more needs to be done to give them education, health and job opportunities for the future.
Julie Walker reports.
Duration 3’14”
World Book Day is celebrated annually on 23 April.
The day was chosen as some of the world’s greatest writers either were born or died on that day, including William Shakespeare, Cervantes and Vladimir Nabokov.
These authors and many others are read by people the world over thanks to the work of translators.
Finnish rap artist Signmark, who was born deaf, brought his sign-language rap music to New York to promote the human rights of people with disabilities.
He gave two “Silent Shout” performances, one inside UN headquarters and another outside that drew a large crowd.
While Signmark performed in American Sign Language, rapper Brandon Bauer provided the voice for the lyrics.
Derrick Mbatha reports.
Duration: 3'30"
Michael Franti often sings about social issues and has been using his music and other artistic endeavours to advocate for the environment.
He recently took part in an event held by Envision, a UN initiative that brings together the creative community with scientists and the corporate world to work towards a more sustainable future.
Mr. Franti says everyone has a responsibility to protect the planet because it sustains life.
Julie Walker spoke with him at the ENvision event where he also performed.
Duration: 4’52”
Violence continues to be a serious problem in Africa, according to a Tanzanian scholar.
Dr. Lindah Mhando says the causes of violence include unemployment, the unequal distribution of resources and marginalization of women.
She has edited a book entitled “Birthing Masculinity”.
African countries continue to make steady progress in continue to
Dr. Mhando spoke to Derrick Mbatha about the recent and past incidents of violence on the continent.
Duration: 4'47"
Now that the Titanic has turned 100, it is being protected by a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage.
On the night of 14 April 1912, the ship struck an iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic and sank the next day.
No single country can claim the site, because the wreck is in international waters.
Actress and Goodwill Ambassador Mira Sorvino uses her star power in the fight against human trafficking, especially when it comes to women and girls.
She was at the UN recently to take part in an interactive dialogue on the issue.
It is estimated that, across the globe, 2.4 million people are forced to endure the crime of human trafficking.
Ms. Sorvino tells Julie Walker she takes her off screen role very seriously and is even involved in policy writing and legal reform on the issue.
Duration 4’41”
