Investing in girls’ education is one of the ways to contribute to our common future, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a message on the International Day of the Girl Child, observed on 11 October.
The Secretary-General says empowering girls, ensuring their human rights and addressing the discrimination and violence they face are essential to progress for all humanity.
The 2013 International Day for Disaster Reduction recognizes the critical role of persons with disabilities in fostering disaster resilience.
Persons living with disabilities are among the most excluded in society, and their plight is magnified when a disaster strikes.
The theme of the 2013 International day for Disaster Reduction is “Living with Disability and Disasters.”
In recent weeks and months, cities around the world have been hit with extreme weather conditions.
Severe storms have struck both coasts of Mexico. Typhoons have caused widespread flooding in Asia.
Ahead of World Habitat Day, observed on 7 October, the UN is hosting a High-Level Conference of global experts to discuss how to build not only green cities, but resilient and sustainable ones.
Jocelyne Sambira reports.
Duration: 3'07"
As a university student and radio show host in her native Rwanda, Benigne Mugwaneza Ishimwe is one busy young woman.
But the 21-year-old found time to vote in the MY World survey launched by the United Nations to determine global priorities for a better world.
In fact, Benigne was the one millionth person to participate in the year-long campaign which asked people which issues they think would make the most difference to their lives.
At her high school in Viet Nam, some students refer to Nguyen Phuong Anh as “X-Woman,” comparing her to one of the mutant superheroes from the X-Men comics and films who use their powers for good.
But the teenager, who was born with brittle bone disease, prefers to call herself “Crystal” as this name hints at both her fragility and her strength.
Sixteen-year-old Crystal was at the UN this week where she joined music superstar and UN Messenger of Peace Stevie Wonder to advocate on behalf of children with disabilities.
Cancer cases are increasing in Africa, but the continent doesn’t have enough trained technicians and healthcare professionals who can help to prevent, detect and treat cancer.
The Virtual University of Cancer Control and Regional Training Network or VUCCnet is an e-learning and traditional teaching approach to improve the capacity of African countries to tackle cancer.
UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi. [UN Photo/Evan Schneider][/caption]The UN Secretary-General’s Youth Envoy says, “We cannot talk about inclusive development for all without making sure that we are addressing the fact that many young people around the world have no access to information and communication technology (ICTs)”.
Ahmad Alhendawi says ICTs can transform the lives of so many people around the world if they are empowered with the knowledge and the skills to access these tools.
Students from around the world gathered at the United Nations recently to participate in a workshop on the rules and procedures of the United Nations for Model UN organizers and participants.
Model UN simulates the United Nations General Assembly or Security Council and other multilateral bodies.
Conferences for Model UN or the MUN are held worldwide every year where students assume the role of ambassadors.
During the workshop in New York, UN Radio’s Derrick Mbatha caught up with Abu Moro, a student who belongs to the Model United Nations Club in his country.
Bringing the United Nations closer to the world’s young people is the aim of a website launched on Thursday by the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth.
Ahmad Alhendawi describes www.un.org/youthenvoy as a “one-stop shop” which combines information on UN action on issues of interest to youth with opportunities to get involved with the organization’s work.
He tells UN Radio’s Dianne Penn that the portal is just the first step towards increasing youth engagement with the UN.
Duration: 4'54"
High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres with ministers from Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan at the start of today's meeting in Geneva. [UNHCR/J-M.Ferre][/caption]Ministers from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey have joined with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) to appeal for greater support to countries hosting Syrians fleeing the ongoing crisis in their homeland.
