culture

To kick off International Youth Day celebrated on the 12th of August, young people around the world gathered at the United Nations - in person and via video connectivity - for a global interactive dialogue with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

This day’s theme is UN uniting for youth.

Today, you will hear excerpts of that dialogue moderated by Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi, the Envoy for Youth.

Duration: 4’55”

At age one, Fatima was subjected to female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in her village in Afar Region of Ethiopia which has one of the world’s highest prevalence rates. [Photo: UNICEF/Kate Holt][/caption]Over the past 30 years, governments and civil society have been intensifying efforts to stamp out Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C).

A recent report from the UN children’s fund (UNICEF) shows that 125 million girls and women have already undergone the process and that 30 million more are at risk.

Breast-milk is the best source of nourishment for infants and young children, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

But although nearly all mothers are physically able to breastfeed, the agency says many are discouraged from doing so because they are misled to believe that infant formula is better for their babies.

Electoral kits being unloaded in Timbuktu, ahead of the 28 July 2013 presidential elections in Mali. [Photo: MINUSMA/Blagoje Grujic][/caption]Over 50 per cent of Malians went to the polls on the first round of their country’s presidential elections, that’s according to Aurelien Agbenonci, the special representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Mali.

He says this means that the Malians want to make the right choice and change their situation. He commends the people of Mali for this achievement.

Fighting between Government forces and rebels in the northern part of Mali, which started early last year, has caused insecurity, instability and a growing refugee crisis.

The Human Rights Council says human rights violations were committed by rebels, terrorist groups and other organized transnational crime networkS, particularly in the north of the country.

These abuses, which included violence against women and children, summary and extrajudicial executions, and pillaging, were condemned by the Council.

Save the Grace volunteers in Lebanon repackage excess food from restaurants for distribution to Syrian refugee families. [Adapted from UNIFEED][/caption]Ramadan is the holiest time of the year in Islam when Muslims all around the world abstain from food, drink and other physical needs for a month, from dawn until the sun sets.

A mother registers her child in Nigeria. [Photo source: UNIFEED][/caption]UNICEFestimates that Nigeria will have the highest absolute rise in child population by 2025.

To account for this rapidly growing population and address challenges associated with getting children registered, the Government, with the support of UNICEF and partners, has established a monitoring and evaluation system called RapidSMS.

Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. [UN Photo/Mark Garten][/caption]The sixth session of the Conference of States Parties of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the CRPD, is winding up its three day meeting at the United Nations.

Penny Hartin, Chief Executive Officer of the World Blind Union, says a high point of the meeting has been its focus on including the needs of people with disabilities in the post-2015 development agenda.

Ambassador Macharia Kamau of Kenya, President of the Conference of States Parties to Disabilities Rights Convention at a press briefing. [UN Photo/Mark Garten][/caption]Improving living standards and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities is a major focus of attention of a meeting taking place on disabilities at the United Nations.

The 132 States parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities are looking at ways to make development “disability-inclusive”.

Gerry Adams reports.

Duration: 3'04"

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former US President Bill Clinton, and Reverend Jesse Jackson during an event commemorating the Nelson Mandela International Day [UN Photo/Eskinder Debeb][/caption]July 18 is Nelson Mandela International Day. It’s also the day when President Nelson Mandela celebrates his 95th birthday.

The UN General Assembly in New York marks this Day with an informal meeting to honour the South African leader’s contributions to democracy, racial justice and reconciliation.