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Press Release
08 December 2023
Secretary-General: Transnational Organized Crime ‘a Vicious Threat’ to Sustainable Development
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Story
08 December 2023
Garba joins UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage
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Press Release
08 December 2023
Secretary-General urges Donors to Continue Stepping Forward
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Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in India
India is critical in determining the success of the SDGs, globally. At the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted, “Sustainable development of one-sixth of humanity will be of great consequence to the world and our beautiful planet. It will be a world of fewer challenges and greater hope; and, more confident of its success”. NITI Aayog, the Government of India’s premier think tank, has been entrusted with the task of coordinating the SDGs, mapping schemes related to the SDGs and their targets, and identifying lead and supporting ministries for each target. In addition, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has been leading discussions for developing national indicators for the SDGs. State governments are key to India’s progress on the SDGs as they are best placed to ‘put people first’ and to ensuring that ‘no one is left behind’. The UN Country Team in India supports NITI Aayog, Union ministries and state governments in their efforts to address the interconnectedness of the goals, to ensure that no one is left behind and to advocate for adequate financing to achieve the SDGs.
Story
16 June 2023
UNSDCF 2023-2027
GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 represents the UN development system’s collective offer to the Government of India, in line with the national vision for development, for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting gender equality, youth empowerment and human rights. The United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/72/279 designates the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework as the principal planning and implementation instrument for the UN Development System at country level. Programme priorities of the UN entities working at the country are derived from the GoI-UNSDCF.
Read the report here: https://digitallibrary.in.one.un.org/PdfViewer.aspx?FileName=8292_1.pdf&Resourcekey=Mz9rVEcrLsA=
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Story
03 August 2022
UN News Hindi
Visit the UN News Hindi site for news, stories, opinions, interviews, videos and audio stories from across the UN system in Hindi: https://news.un.org/hi/
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Publication
29 September 2023
United Nations in India Annual Report 2022
The UN India Annual Report 2022 covers the final year of the UN - Government of India Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF) 2018-2022, which continued to guide our support to India’s development priorities, even as we repurposed a significant part of our planned activities and budget towards the COVID-19 response.
The UN pulled together as a system with remarkable response support efforts during the darkest days of COVID-19, and we
continued to support the Government of India’s response to the health and socioeconomic impact of the fast-spreading
Omicron variant in the early months of the year.
Yet, just as a fragile recovery took root, new shocks emerged from a senseless conflict in Ukraine, driving increasing scarcity of life’s basic necessities such as food and fuel, and wiping out years of progress in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Read the full report.
continued to support the Government of India’s response to the health and socioeconomic impact of the fast-spreading
Omicron variant in the early months of the year.
Yet, just as a fragile recovery took root, new shocks emerged from a senseless conflict in Ukraine, driving increasing scarcity of life’s basic necessities such as food and fuel, and wiping out years of progress in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Read the full report.
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Story
08 December 2023
Garba joins UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage
This week’s inclusion of Garba makes it India’s 15th inscription on the List, joining a group of more than 700 that includes yoga, calligraphy and pizza-making, among others.
A ritualistic and devotional dance, Garba is particularly celebrated for nine days during the festival of Navaratri. The festival is dedicated to the worship of the feminine energy or Shakti. Garba takes place within homes and temple courtyards, public spaces in villages, urban squares, streets, and large open grounds. Garba thus becomes an all-encompassing participatory community event.
Tim Curtis, Director of UNESCO’s New Delhi Regional Office for South Asia and UNESCO Representative for Bhutan, India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka, welcomed the news.
“I hope this inscription helps ensure the viability of this tradition and inspires the community, particularly young people, to continue with the knowledge, skills and oral traditions associated with Garba,” he said.
Over the decades Garba has been an integral and living component of Gujarati culture in India and among the global Indian diaspora. In addition to being a religious ritual, Garba fosters social equality by diluting socio-economic, gender, and rigid sect structures. It continues to be inclusive and participative by diverse and marginalized communities, strengthening community bonds.
The inscription of Garba took place in Botswana on 6 December during the 18th session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The session is evaluating 45 nominations for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, among other nominations submitted by State Parties for inscription on the Lists of the Convention,
Apart from Garba, other new inscriptions this week on the Representative Lisdt of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity include Rickshaws and Rickshaw painting in Dhaka (Bangladesh), a folk music festival Junkanoo (the Bahamas) and opera-singing (Italy).
The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was created to enhance the viability of communities’ cultural practices and know-how, and therefore safeguard the intangible cultural heritage of communities globally.
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Story
03 December 2023
Ability in Disability
The photo series titled "Ability in Disability” aligns with this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities theme, ‘United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with and by persons with disabilities’. The exhibit showcases 21 impactful narratives from the 'Everyone is Good at Something’ Campaign shedding light on the challenges and triumphs experienced by People with Disabilities across every Indian state and union territory, encompassing all 21 disabilities recognized under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act of 2016.
Emphasizing on the individual rather than the disability, these photos illuminate the struggles and victories of relatively less-known persons with disabilities. Through the compelling portrayal of their daily lives, EGS aims to raise awareness about disability among the broader public, challenge preconceived notions and biases, and foster a more inclusive society that embraces diversity.
Aman Kumar Mahto,14 years
“I play with ball in school. Sometimes my mother makes my favourite chicken drumstick and aloo paratha”. Aman faces challenges in articulating his thoughts due to a speech impairment, but his mother, Sanu Devi adeptly deciphers his somewhat incoherent words when posed with questions. He says he likes school because he can play ball there, and that his classmate stole some of his tiffin! He loves chicken legs, instant noodles and aloo paratha.
Aman, who has an intellectual disability**, is in Class 1 of the special school at the Deepshikha Institute of Child Development and Mental Health in Ranchi, Jharkhand. His mother Sanu Devi (33), a domestic worker, drops him off and picks him up from the school bus stop, 13 km from their home in Pithoria.
Aman expresses his fondness for school, citing the enjoyment of playing ball and revealing a humorous incident where a classmate pilfered some of his lunch. His culinary preferences include a love for chicken legs, instant noodles, and aloo paratha.
Sanu's life has been marked by hardship, particularly after being widowed at the age of 24. Constant harassment from her in-laws, possibly stemming from her background in a landless family, led to her eviction from their house. Struggling as a daily wage earner, her husband Mahesh succumbed to filariasis in 2012, a parasitic infection causing significant leg swelling. Sanu persevered with the support of her siblings, enduring periods of minimal or no meals while taking care of her two sons, Aman and Ankit (12 years). With a government grant and a private loan, she managed to build a home, and Aman's disability pension of Rs 1,000 lightens her financial burden and supports her childcare. Deepshikha Institute has also waived Aman's school fees.
Aman, engrossed in cartoons and mobile games, may not fully comprehend the sacrifices his mother makes to provide him with the cherished chicken dishes he craves.
Amir Hussain Lone
“I’ve never celebrated my birthday. One should celebrate each new day, since one never knows what life has in store.”
Amir Hussain Lone, a resident of Wagham village in Kashmir's Anantnag district, remains uncertain about his birth year, estimating it to be around 1989. However, he vividly recalls the fateful Sunday in 1997 when, as a young boy delivering lunch to his brother at his father's sawmill, a mechanical saw got entangled with his jacket, resulting in the loss of both his arms.
Amir narrates his life experiences with a clarity as if they transpired yesterday. He recounts how villagers abandoned him but it was a neighbour who sought help from the nearby army camp, and soldiers transported him to a hospital in Baramullah. The financial strain on his family led to the sale of their land to fund his treatment. Emerging from years in the hospital, Amir faced discouragement from villagers, who suggested injecting him with poison, deeming him worthless. However, his cherished grandmother, Fazee (who passed away in 2010), provided unwavering support, soothing his troubled mind and encouraging him to attend school in Marhama village.
Adapting gradually, Amir learned to use his feet for daily activities such as shaving, bathing, eating, drinking, and writing. Inspired by watching Sachin Tendulkar play on TV, he became a lifelong fan and took up cricket himself. Through hours of relentless practice, Amir mastered the art of bowling with two toes and batting by tucking the bat between his chin and shoulder. In 2016, he captained the J&K para cricket team, and in 2017, he received the Punjab Swabhimaan award.
At the time of this conversation, Amir was preparing for an upcoming match in Anantnag the following day. His most treasured possession is a bat signed by Sachin, and his ultimate dream is to meet his "guru."
Dr. Shanthipriya Siva, 50 years
“Enjoy your ups, and have the courage to face your downs”
Over the course of her life, Dr. Shanthipriya Siva (50), a resident of Chennai has taken on various roles – an ophthalmologist, an artist, an author, a model, and a motivational speaker. However, the role that has empowered her the most is that of being a Young-Onset Parkinson’s warrior.
In the early months of 2010, Dr. Priya's husband, Dr. K. Siva (51), and her son, Dr. Khanishk (25), observed an unusual stiffness in her right arm while walking. Initially dismissing it as a gym-related sprain, she later faced the challenge of her right foot refusing to fit into her slipper. Seeking specialist opinions, neurologists confirmed Young-Onset Parkinson’s, an infrequent, progressive disorder occurring between the ages of 20 and 45.
Moving from denial to acceptance, Priya embarked on a journey to comprehend and manage the disease, determined to assist others facing similar struggles. In 2019, she relinquished her medical practice and established the SAAR Foundation to raise awareness and aid in managing Parkinson’s. Attending the 5th World Parkinson’s Congress in Kyoto, she delved into abstract artistry and underwent Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery.
DBS not only helped regulate symptoms and reduce medication but also triggered compulsive behavior. Priya began creating a new artwork every other day and commenced writing. Her painting, ‘Meraki,’ earned recognition at the London Art Biennale in July 2023. The previous year, she accomplished an inclusive trek up Kerala's Meesapulimala peak, the second-highest in the Western Ghats. Currently, Priya is working on her book, 'Living Well with Parkinson’s,' aiming to support individuals with Parkinson’s and their caregivers in coping with the challenges of the disease. “I don’t think that I’m disabled,” she asserts. “Parkinson’s has transformed me into an artist, an author. It has made me a better person.”
Shekhar Naik, 36 years
“Parents of visually impaired children should not hold them back. They should support their children by utilising the opportunities the government provides”
Growing up in Shivamogga, Karnataka, Shekhar Naik (36) faced exclusion from childhood games due to his blindness. However, he defied these early challenges to become an exceptional cricketer, ultimately earning the national award for his achievements.
Hailing from an agricultural background, Shekhar's blindness was hereditary, with his mother Jamila Bai, her parents, and several other relatives also affected. At the age of eight, a fall prompted a visit to a health center, where the possibility of partial vision recovery was mentioned. Rushed to Bengaluru, Shekhar underwent an operation that granted 40 percent vision to his right eye.
Shekhar's education took place at Sri Sharada Devi Andhara Vikasa Kendra, a center for the blind providing free education and emphasizing sports and cultural activities. While mastering the veena and participating in Yakshagana, a traditional coastal Karnataka theatre form, cricket remained his primary passion. The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), an initiative of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, identified his talent. Shekhar's cricketing journey unfolded progressively – from the state blind cricket team to the national team, earning accolades such as 'Man of the Match' and 'Man of the Series,' captaining the Indian team, and ultimately receiving the prestigious Padma Shree award.
Shekhar tied the knot with Roopa K.C. while she was employed at Samarthanam, and they are parents to two daughters: Poorvika (12) and Sanvika (7). In 2019, he founded the Shekhar Naik Foundation to support budding blind cricketers. Despite the prospect of complete vision loss due to retinal pigmentation, Shekhar maintains, "Disability is not a weakness. It is one's strength."
The Sheroes
“Never look back. If you look back you will get stuck and you won’t be able to move forward”
The vibrant ambience of Sheroes’ Hangout Café mirrors the resilience of the women who operate it. Their T-shirts proudly proclaim, “My beauty is my smile,” while the back carries a powerful message: “Stop acid attacks.”
Among the ten female staff members, all of whom work in shifts, the five individuals we spoke to shared a common history of being attacked with acid during their teenage years, stemming from various tragic circumstances. Rukaiya Khathun (37) from Aligarh, who aspired to be a fashion designer, was attacked at 14 by her sister’s brother-in-law after she rejected his marriage proposal. Dolly (20), aspiring to become a doctor, endured an acid attack at the age of 13. Roopa (27) faced a similar fate at 14 when her stepmother poured acid on her face. Madhu (40) experienced an attack at 17 after rejecting a marriage proposal. Bala Prajapati (26) from Bijnor was attacked at 17 by a man seeking revenge after her mother spurned his advances.
Beyond the isolation and depression that marked their lives, most of these women received no justice or compensation, and the financial barrier to multiple plastic surgeries was insurmountable. The restaurant, initiated by Alok Dixit, founder of the Chhanv Foundation, provided them with a newfound purpose.
“I used to hide my face behind a burqa,” shares Rukaiya, “but now I am comfortable in jeans and a T-shirt.” She aspires to work in the café kitchen someday. Roopa dreams of designing and selling clothes online, while Dolly envisions opening a dance academy. Madhu, proficient in computer skills and fascinated with video editing (a skill acquired during the Foundation's training sessions in various disciplines amid the lockdown), has her own aspirations.
Bala captures the sentiment of all the Sheroes, stating, “Life does not stop just because our faces are scarred.”
For more stories, visit: www.everyoneisgoodatsomething.com
More about India Inclusion Foundation: https://indiainclusionsummit.com
To download these photos, visit: www.wephoto.in
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Story
23 November 2023
Norway and WFP India ink partnership to help women farmers withstand climate change
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in India and the Norwegian Government have joined forces for a project aimed at supporting women smallholder farmers in the country’s northeastern state of Assam.
Under the project, WFP will work closely with Assam’s state Government to equip smallholder farmers with adaptive farming practices, diversification, and livelihood expansion strategies to withstand the adverse effects of climate change in the long run.
An initiative was signed on 15 November by Ms. Elisabeth Faure, WFP's Representative and Country Director in India, and Ms. Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, Minister of International Development for Norway. The signing took place in the presence of Mr. Franklin L. Khobung, Joint Secretary (NRM/RFS) from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare in the Government of India.
The initiative aims to pilot innovative strategies for climate-resilient agricultural practices. The goal is to create a scalable model that can be customised and implemented internationally, fostering South-South learning.
Assam faces significant challenges due to its climate vulnerabilities. The state relies heavily on agriculture and has a sizable rural population. However, it struggles with a climate that oscillates between excessive rainfall and drought-like conditions. With an annual rainfall of almost 2,300 millimetres, well above the national average, Assam faces the dual threats of floods and minimal rainfall.
Assam’s Government has made commendable efforts to support rural livelihoods through schemes such as the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission Society. However, there are still obstacles that hinder adaptation to climate change. These include a lack of measures that are tailored to address the specific impacts of climate change, limited financial capacity to adapt, and the inadequate provision of clear climate information to farmers.
The vulnerability also extends to societal dynamics, particularly the disadvantaged position of women. The erosion of the matrilineal system and the prevalent patriarchy contribute to the marginalization of women, leading to lower literacy rates (77% compared to 84%) and a higher prevalence of anaemia (66% among women aged 15-49), further exacerbating the issue.
The significance of climate-resilient agriculture in women's empowerment cannot be overstated. With women comprising 29% of the workforce in 2019 and a growing feminization of agriculture due to male outmigration, women farmers find themselves disproportionately exposed to climate risks. Despite their pivotal role in crop cultivation and livestock caregiving, women face challenges accessing resources and recognition.
“Supporting communities, especially women, to safeguard their livelihoods and food security against the mounting impact of climate change is a priority for the Government of Norway. The partnership with WFP in India will also create a model for wider scale-up and expand learning in climate change adaptation,” said Ms. Tvinnereim.
The partnership will involve various departments in Assam, including the Department of Agriculture, the State Rural Livelihoods Mission, and the Department of Meteorology and Environment. Moreover, local organisations will be approached for community mobilisation, including engaging with women's self-help groups and federations.
WFP will also work with the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research to access their expertise on climate-neutral and resilient farming systems relevant to the project worldwide.
“The partnership with the Government of Norway is strategic and builds on the substantial technical expertise that WFP has in working with the national and state government and other stakeholders. The project will support vulnerable communities through nature-based solutions and a gender-transformative approach,” said Ms. Faure.
WFP works together with various state governments across India to empower smallholder farmers to adapt to climate challenges. WFP partners with local authorities, such as the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment in the state of Odisha, to enhance farmers’ resilience and encourage practical actions towards sustainable agriculture.
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Story
23 November 2023
A fully accessible Universal Declaration of Human Rights
United Nations is celebrating the 75th year of the world's landmark document on human rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. UN Information Centre New Delhi has converted the online version of UDHR into a fully accessible document. Accessibility features like tagging, text recognition and alternative text for images have been added to the PDF of UDHR.
Accessible PDFs ensure that persons with disabilities can now read or hear the document with bookmarks, a table of contents, and descriptive hyperlinks for easy navigation.
Read / Download the Accessible UDHR here.
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Story
23 November 2023
Ensuring accessibility in Delhi’s parks
Delhi’s parks are the green jewels of the Indian capital, beloved by its residents. Now they should become more inclusive and accessible for persons with disabilities through an innovative training programme co-organized by the United Nations.
Earlier this month the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) joined forces with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD) and the Centre for Accessibility in Built Environment (CABE) Foundation to hold a two-day course for 80 park officials from across the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
The officials learned how to design and retrofit parks to make them more inclusive, especially for users with disabilities as well as older persons, women and children, and discuss how to operationalize these inclusive approaches in the parts of Delhi
On the second day of the training, the participants visited Shahidi Park in the city centre and conducted an accessibility survey. They were divided into groups, with each group having at least one wheelchair user and one person simulating vision impairment to explore the park’s infrastructure and facilities.
Mikiko Tanaka, Director and Head of the ESCAP Subregional Office for South and South-West Asia shared, “ESCAP mandates on disability inclusion affirm the importance of developing inclusive public spaces that are fully accessible for persons with disabilities – and of utilizing a universal design approach in achieving this objective. In this context, we stand ready to support park authorities in the design and retrofitting of selected public parks in Delhi.”
The course was the first in a series of training sessions on designing inclusive green spaces across South and South-West Asia –based on a compendium on the topic developed by ESCAP.
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Press Release
08 December 2023
Secretary-General: Transnational Organized Crime ‘a Vicious Threat’ to Sustainable Development
I commend the initiative of Ecuador to focus attention on the growing threats posed by transnational organized crime.
Often invisible but always insidious, transnational organized crime is a vicious threat to peace, security and sustainable development wherever it operates. And it operates everywhere -- in all countries, rich and poor, North and South, developed and developing. Meanwhile, cyberspace is a virtual El Dorado for criminals.
The activities of transnational organized crime take many forms, but the ramifications are the same: weakened governance, corruption and lawlessness, open violence, death and destruction.
Illicit financial flows are not abstract figures. They amount to billions of missed development opportunities, lost livelihoods and worsened poverty. On the African continent alone, more money is lost due to tax evasion, money-laundering and illicit financial flows than comes in in through official development assistance.
Human trafficking -- a heinous violation of fundamental human rights that preys on the most vulnerable -- continues with impunity. If anything, it is growing worse -- especially for women and girls, who form the majority of trafficked people identified globally.
Drug trafficking -- the most lucrative business for transnational organized crime groups -- is at record-highs, creating vectors of violence that span the globe.
The growing illicit trade in firearms is fuelling conflicts, killing and maiming millions and contributing to a dramatic increase in criminal activities in many areas of the world. This was a central issue in my discussions at the last CARICOM [Caribbean Community] summit. And trafficking in natural resources, wildlife and other commodities and services is destroying people and planet.
All these activities are increasingly interlinked and sponsored by true multinational corporations of global crime. Amidst a world in crisis, illicit economies find fertile ground to grow.
The socio-economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and its uneven recovery, widening inequalities, a rising cost-of-living crisis, shrinking fiscal space, and worsening poverty and unemployment all weaken State authority, fray the social fabric, and heighten insecurities.
Transnational organized crime and conflict feed off each other. Crime is a catalyst for conflict. And when conflict rages, crime thrives. It undermines the authority and effectiveness of State institutions, erodes the rule of law and destabilizes law enforcement structures.
From Afghanistan to Colombia, the production and trafficking of illicit drugs fuelled brutal and long-lasting conflicts. And all across the world, criminal groups spread violence, fear and insecurity in their effort to control trafficking routes.
Haiti is caught in a vicious cycle of State collapse, escalating gang violence and a growing illicit trade of firearms smuggled into the country. The illicit trade incentivizes gangs to gain control of ports, highways and other critical infrastructure.
In Myanmar, human trafficking and online scams, often run from outside the country, are flourishing in an environment of violence, repression and the erosion of the rule of law following the military takeover in 2021.
In many conflicts, the activities of transnational criminal groups and armed groups overlap and intersect, making conflict resolution even harder. The links between organized crime and terrorism are a matter of particular concern.
Organized crime groups develop opportunistic alliances with armed actors designated as terrorist groups by this Council, often to profit from various forms of trafficking.
At the same time, terrorist groups seek out connections with organized crime to fund their activities. In the Sahel, the illicit trade in fuel, drugs, arms and natural resources is providing operational resources to armed groups across the region, threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions.
Criminal networks use the vast sums of money generated by their activities to hire armed groups to protect them, adding new layers of complexities to ongoing conflicts -- as it is the case in Libya.
And in Somalia, Al-Shabaab’s control of the illicit trade in charcoal radiates insecurity across the region and is devastating forests with dramatic ramifications.
The Security Council has long recognized the danger posed by transnational organized crime to international peace and security, including in resolution 2482 (2018). But, we must do more to strengthen our defences.
I see three priorities for action. First, we must strengthen cooperation. Criminal groups work across borders and geographies. We must meet this global challenge with a global response. Multilateral cooperation is the only credible path to target the criminal dynamics that fuel violence and prolong cycles of conflict.
We have the blueprint: the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its three additional protocols. I call on all Member States to fully implement the Convention and work together and assist each other in investigating and prosecuting organized crime groups.
We are also supporting Member States to address the links between transnational organized crime and terrorism through the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact. And I am hopeful that Member States will reach consensus on a new treaty on cybercrime to deepen cooperation while protecting human rights online -- in line with my report on Our Common Agenda.
Stronger international and regional cooperation is critical to facilitate the collection, sharing and exchange of data -- because we cannot target what we cannot see. Organized crime has been quick to exploit cryptocurrencies and digital tools. Our response must be even faster, more organized and more data driven.
Second, we must strengthen the rule of law. The rule of law is foundational to our efforts to find peaceful solutions to conflicts, and tackle the multifaceted threats posed by transnational organized crime.
When the rule of law is effective, it has unmatched potential to build trust between institutions and the people they serve. It creates a level playing field and contributes to reducing corruption. It underpins human rights and enables sustainable social, political and economic development, leaving no one behind.
All stakeholders -- Member States, regional organizations, civil society and the private sector -- have a responsibility to uphold the rule of law. But the reality today is that many countries are at grave risk of the “rule of lawlessness”. From unconstitutional seizures of power to the trampling of human rights, Governments themselves are contributing to disorder and a lack of accountability.
When the rule of law is weak, the consequences reach across all spheres of public and private life: impunity prevails, crime flourishes and the risk of violent conflict grows exponentially. My New Vision for the Rule of Law is aimed at reinforcing its centrality in all activities of our Organization. We stand ready to support Member States in their efforts to strengthen the rule of law through our Country Teams around the world.
Third, we must strengthen prevention and foster inclusion. This means redoubling our efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development -- our best instrument to create the economic and social conditions in which organized crime cannot succeed.
It means ensuring respect for all human rights -- civil, political, economic, social and cultural. It means tackling cybercrime and more effectively thwarting criminal groups that use technology in every step of their malicious activities.
It means tailoring crime-prevention strategies to reflect the lived experiences of all communities and constituencies -- especially minorities, women and young people. And it means advancing gender equality, because women’s effective participation is essential to successful conflict prevention, peacemaking and sustaining peace.
Time and again, purely military and law enforcement responses have not only proven their limits -- they have also proven self-defeating. We must strive towards a better balance between preventive and security responses. Combating crime must never be used as an excuse for trampling on people’s human rights.
In all of this, we must remain alert to the constantly changing nature of organized crime and [continuously] rethink our approaches -- both how we work and how we work with others. Our efforts must be coherent, coordinated, context-specific and centred on prevention.
The Security Council has a critical role in our collective fight against organized crime. But, to succeed, we must act together and stand united. Together, let us commit to create a more peaceful and stable world in which organized crime has no place. Thank you.
[END]
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Press Release
08 December 2023
Secretary-General urges Donors to Continue Stepping Forward
It is always a pleasure to address this high-level pledging event for the Central Emergency Response Fund.
CERF is a United Nations success story. When I was High Commissioner for Refugees, we benefitted from CERF many times.
Quick analysis, quick decision, quick implementation. That is the memory I have about CERF support.
I can absolutely recommend CERF as a vital, effective and strategic funding tool for humanitarian emergencies.
Donors can be confident that their funds are going where they are most needed -- because CERF prioritizes people who are likely to be marginalized and left behind: women and girls, people with disabilities, older people.
Year after year, CERF demonstrates its unique and irreplaceable role by getting funding quickly to people in crisis and this year was no different.
In April, when conflict erupted in Sudan, CERF made funding available to help millions of people caught up in the brutal fighting and forced from their homes, both inside Sudan and across borders.
In October, CERF quickly channelled funds to our United Nations humanitarian agencies in Gaza as they struggled to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of people impacted by the conflict.
Beyond the immediate crises, CERF funding is also helping to counter long-term trends, from resurgent food insecurity to the humanitarian impact of the climate crisis.
In 2023, CERF funding helped to prevent sharp spikes in food insecurity in 28 countries, reducing the risk of famine in several of them.
Since its inception in 2006, around one quarter of CERF allocations have gone towards responding to climate-related disasters. This year, the proportion increased to one third -- but we must still be able to do more.
With this in mind, my Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, has just announced a CERF climate action account at the twenty-eighth UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai. This will enable donors to channel additional financing directly to address the risks and impacts of climate-related disasters.
And in 2023, CERF once again supported people in forgotten crises that go under the radar, from Haiti to Burkina Faso and Yemen.
More than $270 million was released to bridge funding gaps and bolster humanitarian operations across 26 countries with underfunded emergencies -- the highest amount ever.
In many cases, these funds helped to empower people in crisis by restoring their control over their lives.
Some resources went directly to local and national organizations working with communities to meet their priority needs.
Other funding went to cash assistance and vouchers so that people affected by crisis can make their own choices.
And some of these funds supported the participation of people affected by crisis in humanitarian decision-making. This is proven to improve the effectiveness of humanitarian aid.
And finally, significant CERF funding supported what we call anticipatory [environmental] action. These projects provide critical assistance, like drought-resistant seeds or improved water sources, before emergencies strike.
By November 2023, CERF funding had been used for anticipatory action projects in 19 countries and this funding will become even more important as the impacts of climate change deepen.
None of this would have been possible without the generous financial support of donors. You enabled $632 million to be disbursed to humanitarian operations across 40 countries, exactly when and where it was needed.
We are grateful to all our contributors, and particularly to our top 10 donors. They contributed more than 80 per cent of CERF funds in 2023. But if CERF is to continue to have a transformative impact, 10 countries is not enough.
We need more donors to step up and expand the donor base.
We need financial commitments that match the scale of needs.
We need to meet the $1 billion funding target agreed seven years ago.
I therefore extend my whole-hearted thanks to everyone who has pledged funds to CERF today --
particularly new donors, and those who have increased their contributions.
I urge donors to continue stepping forward for this vital fund.
CERF provides support and hope when people need it most.
CERF helps to put people in charge of their own recovery from crisis.
CERF makes a difference. And I have personally seen that difference.
[END]
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Press Release
08 December 2023
Amid crushing global humanitarian needs, top UN officials urge expanded support for emergency fund
As hunger, disease and displacement continue to drive humanitarian disasters around the world, top United Nations officials today underscored how the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) serves as a lifeline in urgent and underfunded crises, at the Fund’s annual pledging event.
“CERF makes a difference. And I have personally seen that difference,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres at today’s event. “I urge donors to continue stepping forward for this vital fund. CERF provides support and hope when people need it most.”
Forty donors today announced contributions of more than US$419 million for CERF for 2024, exceeding the $409 million pledged at last year’s event. Additional funding is anticipated during 2024, with several donors announcing today that pledges are forthcoming.
So far this year, CERF has allocated more than $640 million to support millions of people who need urgent assistance in some 40 countries and territories. This included kick-starting urgent humanitarian operations in Gaza and Sudan, as well as swiftly responding to the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.
To address rising hunger this year, CERF helped to combat food insecurity and the risk of famine, while also allocating a record $271 million to help keep life-saving operations running in underfunded crises across 26 countries.
The Fund also led the way in innovative finance solutions to climate-related emergencies, including through the launch of the CERF Climate Action Account at the Climate Change Conference (COP28), currently taking place in Dubai.
“This year, once again, CERF has proven that it is truly the ‘for all, by all’ Fund, as envisaged by the General Assembly when [the Fund] was created back in 2006,” said Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths. “It needs to continue to play such a critical role, if it is fully funded.”
Since CERF was established, global funding needs through humanitarian appeals have increased tenfold – from $5.2 billion in 2006 to assist 32 million people to nearly $57 billion in 2023 to help 245 million people in need.
To date, the Fund, which has an annual funding target of $1 billion, has helped hundreds of millions of people with nearly $9 billion in more than 110 countries and territories.
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Press Release
05 December 2023
International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of This Crime
Seventy-five years ago, in the wake of the horrors of the Holocaust, States adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
The Convention embodied a new global commitment to ensure that “never again” should any person endure the horror of genocide.
Sadly, we are in danger of forgetting the dark lessons of the past. In today’s world of deep division, mistrust and conflict, we remain confronted by the enduring menace of this atrocious crime.
This year’s theme reminds us that the Convention and its timeless message must remain a living force in our world, calling us to uphold its solemn promise. Keeping this promise requires all governments ratifying and fully implementing the Convention, while ensuring that perpetrators are held to account.
It requires a renewed global push to establish and strengthen prevention mechanisms, educate new generations about past genocides, and counter mis- and disinformation, which can fuel hate speech and genocidal intent and action.
And it requires continuing to strengthen the efforts of the United Nations -- including the work of my Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide -- to identify early warning signs and sound the alarm.
Together, let us translate our commitment into tangible action, and forever hold the memories of the victims and survivors of genocide in our hearts.
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For more information and resources at the following link:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/genocide-prevention-day
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Press Release
08 December 2023
MIDDLE EAST - 04 Dec 2023
The Secretary-General is extremely alarmed by the resumption of hostilities between Israel and Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups in Gaza, on 1 December, including rocket fire towards Israel from Gaza and the renewal of ground operations and intensified airstrikes by the Israel Defence Forces, increasingly in southern Gaza.
He calls on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law.
The UN continues to appeal to Israeli Forces to avoid further action that would exacerbate the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and to spare civilians from more suffering. Civilians – including health workers, journalists and UN personnel - and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times.
The Secretary-General reiterates the need for unimpeded and sustained humanitarian aid flow to meet the needs of the people throughout the Strip. For people ordered to evacuate, there is nowhere safe to go and very little to survive on.
The Secretary-General also remains gravely concerned about the escalation of violence in the occupied West Bank, including intensified Israeli security operations, high numbers of fatalities and arrests, spiking settler violence and attacks on Israelis by Palestinians.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call for a sustained humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and the unconditional and immediate release of all remaining hostages.
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