Monday 30 April 2012

Message by Juan Somavia Director-General of the ILO on the occasion of World Day for Safety and Health at Work


In his message for the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, celebrated 28 April of each year, the ILO Director General reiterated the need to focus on the promotion of safer and healthier workplaces in the transition to a greener economy.

Statement | 25 April 2012
On this World Day for Safety and Health at Work it is timely to focus on the opportunity to promote safer and healthier workplaces as part of decent work strategies in the transition to a greener economy.
The Rio +20 Summit will address the challenge of ensuring that sustainable development is built on economic growth and social equity as well as environmental protection. Realizing this vision of sustainable development requires integrated and mutually reinforcing policy approaches bringing together the needs of people and the planet, linking growth and fairness.
Protecting the right of all workers to a safe and healthy working environment respects human dignity and the dignity of work and is integral to a socially inclusive approach. This is why occupational safety and health is embedded in the goal of decent work and decent work for all is central to the social pillar of sustainable development.
ILO standards on occupational safety and health provide guidance to governments, employers and workers and their organizations, and all stakeholders on the prevention and management of occupational hazards and risks. They also give guidance on the control measures that prevent negative workplace impact on the environment.
Awareness raising and prevention underpin strategies to reduce the incidence of occupational injury, illness and fatalities. Social dialogue is a valuable and indispensable tool. All of these must feature prominently in the transition to a greener economy.
Experience has already shown that some substances while being more environmentally friendly could be more hazardous to workers’ health. Consequently, renewable energies, waste management and recycling, as well as the greening of traditional industries must be approached from the outset with an eye on the occupational safety and health challenges with the aim of eliminating old hazards and risks and preventing new ones from emerging.
Let us strive for a win-win situation for all – workers, families, communities, enterprises, economies, and the environment.
Let us make the safety and health of all workers – in the formal and informal economy – a primary and direct objective of policies and strategies for an environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive green economy.
Let us opt for the approach that produces safe and healthy work in sustainable enterprises, poverty reduction and a growth path that yields more and better jobs.

Marking the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2012

World Day for Safety and Health at Work in 2012: Promoting safety and health in a green economy

The 2012 World Day for Safety and Health at Work focuses on the promotion of occupational safety and health (OSH) in a green economy. There is a shift in the world to a greener and more sustainable economy. However, even if certain jobs are considered to be “green”, the technologies used may protect the environment but not be safe at all.



Type: Campaign
When: 28 April 2012
Where: Geneva
Contact(s): safeday@ilo.org
As the green economy develops, it is essential that safety and health at work are integrated into green jobs policies. This implies integrating risk assessment and management measures in the life cycle analysis of all green jobs. A true green job must integrate safety and health into design, procurement, operations, maintenance, sourcing and recycling policies, certification systems and occupational safety and health quality standards. This is especially relevant for sectors such as construction, waste recycling, solar energy production and biomass processing.

Promoting safety and health in a green economy

A new report by the ILO launched for the World Day for Safety and Health at Work says the greening of the economy should be accompanied by the proper integration of workplace safety and health measures:

Report on "Promoting safety and health in a green economy"

The report looks at different “green industries” from an occupational safety and health perspective, and shows that while green jobs improve the environment, revitalize the economy and create new employment opportunities, they may also present a number of known and unknown risks for workers.

“Moving towards a green economy implies setting higher standards for environmental protection while, at the same time, incorporating workers' safety and health as an integral part of the strategy. The greening of the economy serves as an ideal platform for comprehensive methods to protect the workers, the general environment and the surrounding communities. Only then will we be contributing to an environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive outcome, only then, will we achieve safe, healthy and decent work in a green economy”
, Mr Seiji Machida, Director of the ILO Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment (SafeWork).
Find out more: Jobs in the green economy should be safe and healthy, ILO says

Questions and answers

with Ms Manuela Tomei, Director of the Labour Protection Department

Read the interview: Zooming in on the safety and health dimension of greening the economy

Marking the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2012

The ILO celebrates the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on the 28 April to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally. It is an awareness-raising campaign intended to focus international attention on emerging trends in the field of occupational safety and health and on the magnitude of work-related injuries, diseases and fatalities worldwide. This year the campaign focuses on the safety and health dimension of greening the economy.
See also: Message by Juan Somavia, Director-General of the ILO

Promotional material

Join the celebration

We invite you to join us in promoting this important date and the theme for this year’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work. Should you organize a related activity in your country or region, please let us know. Share with us your photos, press releases and links to your promotional activities for 28 April 2012. We will disseminate this information through our website after the event. We thank you in advance for your commitment.

Día Mundial de la Seguridad y la Salud en el

Día Mundial de la Seguridad y la Salud en el Trabajo en el 2012: Promover la seguridad y la salud en una economía verde

El Día Mundial de la Seguridad y la Salud en el Trabajo en 2012 se centra en la promoción de la seguridad y la salud laboral en una economía verde. El mundo está evolucionando hacia una economía más verde y sostenible. Aunque ciertos trabajos sean considerados como 'verdes', las tecnologías utilizadas pueden proteger el medio ambiente pero no resultar en absoluto seguras.

Type: Campaign
When: 28 April 2012
Where: Ginebra
Contact(s): safeday@ilo.org
A medida que la economía verde progresa, es esencial que la seguridad y salud en el trabajo se integre en las políticas de empleos verdes. Esto implica la integración de la evaluación de riesgos y de las medidas de gestión en el análisis del ciclo de vida de todos los empleos verdes. 

una economía más verde y sostenible

en el diseño, el suministro, el funcionamiento, el mantenimiento, las políticas de abastecimiento y reciclaje, los sistemas de certificación y las normas de calidad de seguridad y salud laboral. Esto es especialmente relevante en sectores como la construcción, el reciclaje de residuos, la producción de energía solar y el tratamiento de biomasa.

Promover la seguridad y la salud en una economía verde

Un nuevo informe de la OIT, publicado en ocasión del Día Mundial de la Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo, señala que la transición hacia una economía verde debería ser acompañada de la implementación de medidas sobre seguridad y salud ocupacional.

Informe: "Promover la seguridad y la salud en una economía verde"

El informe examina diferentes industrias verdes desde la perspectiva de la seguridad y la salud en el trabajo. El informe destaca que, aunque los trabajos verdes ayuden a mejorar el medio ambiente, a revitalizar la economía y a crear nuevas oportunidades de empleo, estos trabajos también presentan riesgos conocidos y desconocidos que amenazan la salud y el bienestar de la trabajadores.

“La transición hacia una economía verde supone el establecimiento de normas más estrictas para la protección del medioambiente y, al mismo tiempo, la integración de la seguridad y salud de los trabajadores como una parte esencial de esa estrategia. La ecologización de la economía constituye una plataforma ideal para la implementación de métodos dirigidos a proteger los trabajadores, el medioambiente y las comunidades. Sólo entonces contribuiremos a obtener un resultado ecológicamente sostenible y socialmente inclusivo. Sólo entonces lograremos trabajo seguro, saludable y decente en una economía verde”, Sr. Seiji Machida, Director del Programa OIT de seguridad y salud en el trabajo y medio ambiente (SafeWork).
Saber más: La OIT dice que los empleos en la economía verde deben ser seguros y saludables

Entrevista

con Sra. Manuela Tomei, Directora del Departamento de la Protección de los trabajadores

Leer la entrevista: Una mirada a la seguridad y salud ocupacional en la economía verde

Celebración del Día de la Seguridad y la Salud en el Trabajo 2012

La OIT celebra el Día Mundial de la Seguridad y la Salud en el Trabajo el 28 de abril con el fin de promover la prevención de accidentes de trabajo y enfermedades profesionales en todo el mundo. Se trata de una campaña de sensibilización cuyo objetivo es centrar la atención a nivel internacional sobre las nuevas tendencias en el ámbito de la seguridad y la salud en el trabajo y sobre la magnitud de las lesiones, enfermedades y muertes relacionadas con el trabajo.
Vea también: Mensaje de Juan Somavia, Director General de la OIT


Material promocional

Únase al evento

Le invitamos a unirse a nosotros en la promoción de esta importante fecha y en el tema de este Día Mundial de la Seguridad y la Salud en el Trabajo. Si usted está organizando una actividad relacionada en su país o región. Comparta con nosotros las fotos, comunicados de prensa y enlaces sobre sus actividades de promoción para el 28 de abril de 2012. Esta información será difundida a través de nuestra página Web después del evento. Le damos las gracias de antemano por su participación y colaboración.
Tags: green jobs, hazardous work, occupational safety and health, environment
Regions and countries covered: Global
Unit responsible: Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment (SAFEWORK)

28 Avril : Journée mondiale de la sécurité et de la santé au travail

Journée mondiale de la sécurité et de la santé au travail en 2012: Promouvoir la sécurité et la santé dans une économie verte

La Journée mondiale de la sécurité et de la santé au travail de 2012 est consacrée à la promotion de la sécurité et de la santé au travail (SST) dans une économie verte. Un glissement s’effectue au niveau mondial vers une économie plus verte et plus durable. Cependant, même si certains emplois sont considérés comme «verts», il se peut que les technologies utilisées protègent l’environnement mais ne soient pas du tout sécurisées.



Type: Campaign
When: 28 April 2012
Where: Genève
Contact(s): safeday@ilo.org
Au moment où l’économie verte se développe, il est essentiel que la sécurité et la santé au travail soient intégrées aux politiques d’emplois verts. Cela implique d’intégrer des mesures pour l’évaluation et la gestion des risques dans l’analyse du cycle de vie de tous les emplois verts. Un véritable emploi vert doit incorporer la sécurité et la santé au moment de la conception, de l’acquisition, de l’exploitation, de la maintenance, de l’approvisionnement, des systèmes de certification et des normes de qualité en matière de sécurité et santé au travail. Ceci est particulièrement important dans des secteurs tels que la construction, le recyclage des déchets, la production d’énergie solaire et le traitement de la biomasse.

Promouvoir la sécurité et la santé dans une économie verte

Un nouveau rapport de l’OIT publié à l’occasion de la Journée mondiale de la sécurité et la santé au travail indique que la transition vers une économie verte devrait s’accompagner d’une véritable intégration de mesures en faveur de la sécurité et la santé au travail:

Rapport: "Promouvoir la sécurité et la santé dans une économie verte"

Le rapport s’intéresse aux différentes «industries vertes» du point de vue de la sécurité et de la santé au travail et montre que si les emplois verts améliorent l’environnement, revitalisent l’économie et créent de nouveaux gisements d’emplois, ils peuvent aussi présenter un certain nombre de risques connus et inconnus pour les travailleurs.

«La transition vers une économie verte implique l’établissement de normes plus élevées en matière de protection de l’environnement et dans le même temps l’intégration de la sécurité et la santé des travailleurs en tant qu’élément essentiel de la stratégie. L’écologisation de l’économie constitue une plateforme idéale pour des méthodes globales visant à protéger les travailleurs, l’environnement général et les communautés avoisinantes. Ce n’est qu’alors qu’on contribuera à obtenir un résultat durable écologiquement et socialement inclusif, ce n’est qu’alors qu’on réalisera le travail décent, sûr et sain dans une économie verte», M. Seiji Machida, Directeur du Programme de l'OIT sur la sécurité et la santé au travail et sur l'environnement (SafeWork).
En savoir plus: L’OIT affirme que les emplois dans l’économie verte devraient être sûrs et sains

Entretien

avec Mme Manuela Tomei, Directrice du Département de la protection du travail

Lire l'interview: Gros plan sur la dimension sécurité et santé d’une économie verte

Marquez la journée mondiale pour la sécurité et la santé au travail 2012

L'OIT célèbre la Journée mondiale de la sécurité et de la santé au travail le 28 avril pour promouvoir la prévention des accidents du travail et des maladies professionnelles à l’échelle planétaire. Il s’agit d’une campagne de sensibilisation dont l’objectif est de donner un coup de projecteur au niveau international sur les tendances émergentes dans le domaine de la sécurité et de la santé au travail et sur l’ampleur du défi que représentent les lésions, les maladies et les accidents mortels liés au travail dans le monde.
Voir également: Message de Juan Somavia, Directeur général de l’OIT

Materiel promotionnel

Participez à cette journée

Nous vous invitons à vous joindre à nous dans la promotion de cette date importante et du thème de cette année pour la Journée mondiale de la sécurité et de la santé au travail. Si vous organisez une activité dans votre pays ou votre région, faites-le nous savoir. Partagez avec nous vos photos, communiqués de presse et liens relatifs à vos activités de promotion pour le 28 avril 2012. Nous diffuserons cette information sur notre site après l’événement. Nous vous remercions à l’avance pour votre engagement.

28 aprile - Giornata mondiale per la sicurezza e la salute sul lavoro

Giornata mondiale per la sicurezza e la salute sul lavoro

La Giornata mondiale per la sicurezza e la salute sul lavoro 2012 pone l’accento sulla sicurezza e la salute nell’economia verde. Il mondo si avvia sempre di più verso una economia più verde e più sostenibile. Tuttavia, alcuni lavori considerati come « verdi » utilizzano delle tecnologie che proteggono l’ambiente ma risultano tutt’altro che sicure per i lavoratori.

Tipo: Conferenza
Quando: 28 aprile 2012
Dove: Sede dell’ILO, Ginevra, Svizzera

Promuovere la sicurezza e la salute nell’economia verde

Con lo sviluppo dell’« economia verde », diventa fondamentale integrare la sicurezza e la salute sul lavoro nelle politiche di « occupazione verde ». Ciò implica che l’identificazione e la gestione dei rischi vengano integrate nell’analisi del ciclo di vita di tutti i « lavori verdi ». Un lavoro veramente « verde » deve integrare la sicurezza e la salute in tutte i suoi diversi aspetti, dalla progettazione, all’acquisizione delle risorse, dai processi di trasformazione, alla manutenzione, all’utilizzo e al riciclaggio delle risorse, come pure nei sistemi di valutazione e certificazione e negli standard di qualità relativi alla sicurezza e alla salute. Da questo punto di vista sono particolarmente importanti i settori come quelli delle costruzioni, del trattamento dei rifiuti, della produzione di energia solare e della trasformazione di biomassa.

Il Programma dell’ILO per la sicurezza e la salute sul lavoro (SafeWork) ha preparato un rapporto su questo tema. Secondo il rapporto, la sicurezza e la salute sul lavoro sono parte integrante della promozione di lavori verdi in una economia più verde. Sarà così possibile realizzare uno sviluppo economico e sociale sostenibile dal punto di vista dell’ambiente.

Vi invitiamo a raggiungerci per promuovere il tema specifico della Giornata mondiale per la sicurezza e la salute sul lavoro 2012. Vi invitiamo anche a informarci delle attività che verranno organizzate nella vostra regione o nel vostro paese. Mandateci foto, comunicati stampa, riferimenti a siti web relativi alle vostre attività per il 28 aprile 2012: l’informazione verrà ripresa sul nostro sito web. Grazie per il vostro impegno a favore della sicurezza e della salute sul lavoro!

Saturday 28 April 2012

OPCW Statement on the Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare 2012



The OPCW observed the annual Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare with a solemn ceremony today in the Ieper Room at the headquarters in The Hague. Speaking on the occasion were the Chair of the Conference of the States Parties, H.E. Paul Arkwright; the OPCW Director-General, H.E. Ahmet Üzümcü; the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Mr Ed Kronenburg; and Mr Jozias van Aartsen, the Mayor of The Hague.
Select a link below to view their statement:
See Also:

Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare - 29 April

Secretary-General's Message for 2012

Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare - 29 April

The Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare is an occasion to mourn those who have suffered from these inhumane arms and to renew our resolve to eradicate them from our world.
When we remind the world of the agony inflicted by chemical weapons, we present the most compelling case for permanently outlawing them and establishing and verifying, through the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), a comprehensive and legally binding ban.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the entry into force of the CWC. Today, with 188 State Parties representing 98 per cent of the world’s population, the Convention is standing strong. I call on the eight States remaining outside the Convention to join at the earliest possible date. There is no excuse for delays in ridding our planet of these instruments of suffering and death.

Through strong provisions, the Convention provides an effective international regime to verify the destruction of all chemical weapons stockpiles and to prevent their re-emergence. This will reduce the threat of chemical weapons terrorism and strengthen the work of the United Nations to prevent the use of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists.

The extended deadline for States parties to complete the destruction of chemical weapons is 29 April. Almost three quarters of all declared stockpiles have been destroyed. I welcome efforts by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to ensure that all chemical weapons are destroyed as soon as possible.

The OPCW is also continuously monitoring the chemical industry in an effort to prevent the re-emergence of chemical weapons. So far, the Organisation has conducted 2200 inspections in 82 countries.
As we welcome the Convention’s achievements, we never let the memory of the victims fade. This Day is a time to remember them in the most meaningful way possible: by pledging to ensure that future generations never endure the scourge that these human beings suffered.
Ban Ki-moon

Friday 27 April 2012

Message from the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of International Jazz Day, 30 April 2012

International Jazz Day 2012 - Irina Bokova, Director General  
 International Jazz Day, 30 April 2012

Martin Luther King Jr. once said that “jazz speaks for life.” This is the spirit of the first International Jazz Day. Jazz has defied almost every attempt at definition. The music critic John Fordham may have captured it best when he described the music of Miles Davis as “the sound of the skipped heart-beat, the caught breath, the sudden smile.” Jazz is music of boundless creativity. Mixing composition and improvisation, the formal and informal, it renews itself every time it is played. Born in the United States, jazz is owned by the world. Rooted in African traditions and drawing on European musical forms, it has taken on new shapes in cultures across the globe. Jazz makes the most of the world’s diversity, effortlessly crossing borders and bringing people together. Jazz has been a force for positive social transformation throughout its history, and it remains so today. This is why UNESCO created International Jazz Day. From its roots in slavery, this music has raised a passionate voice against all forms of oppression. It speaks a language of freedom that is meaningful to all cultures. The same goals guide UNESCO in its efforts to build bridges of dialogue and understanding between all cultures and societies. We work with governments and societies and also with artists, including Herbie Hancock, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. Making the most of cultural diversity is a task we all share. This is why this first International Jazz Day will be celebrated with concerts across the world, from Muscat to Moscow, Yerevan to Havana, Paris and New York to New Orleans. Each of these concerts will display the power of jazz to enhance human dignity, respect and peace. Each is a moment to share the wonders that come from the sound of the skipped heart-beat, the caught breath, the sudden smile. Jazz connects people, cultures and the world. This is our message. 
Irina Bokova

International Jazz Day, 30 April


About International Jazz Day

In November 2011 the UNESCO General Conference proclaimed 30 April as “International Jazz Day”. This International Day will bring together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts all over the world to celebrate and learn about the art of jazz, its roots, its future and its impact. This important international art form will be celebrated for promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity, and respect for human rights and human dignity, eradicating discrimination, promoting freedom of expression, fostering gender equality, and reinforcing the role of youth for social change.

History and Outreach

Jazz is a unique musical style that originated in the southern part of the United States of America, but has its roots in Africa and merges both African and European music traditions. Years before the integration of social structures such as the work place, education systems, and professional sports teams, the jazz bandstand was an example of tolerance, cooperation, improvisation, and mutual understanding. In addition, jazz provided one of the first forums for freedom of expression and gender empowerment, and is an example of the transformative power of this fundamental human right. During the twentieth century, jazz proved to be a universal language spreading over the continents, influencing and being influenced by other kinds of music, evolving as a merging cultural element for supporters all around the world, with no distinction of race, religion, or national origin.
Jazz music also provided the motivation and opportunity for many women to reach beyond the traditional gender roles designated to them by society, and jazz music was a propelling force in the Women’s Liberation Movement in the United States. Jazz music also helped to provide jobs for women within the music industry, particularly as singers. Prior to the 1920s, almost all popular music was performed exclusively by male musicians.

By celebrating International Jazz Day, UNESCO intends to:

  • Celebrate the unique musical style that jazz represents!
  • Raise international awareness of the need for intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding;
  • Mobilize the intellectual community, decision-makers, cultural entrepreneurs, cultural and educational institutions and the media to promote jazz-related values as a vector of UNESCO’s mandate, pioneering role and intellectual mission;
  • Reinforce international cooperation and communication in the field of jazz music.



United Nations Secretary-General's VIDEO message for International Jazz Day, 30 April
by United Nations

Live concert in commemoration of the first annual International Jazz Day. 30 April 2012 Featuring UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Angelique Kidjo, Wynton Marsalis, Hugh Masekela, Shankar Mahadevan, and many special performers and celebrity hosts. (UNESCO, in partnership with the United States Mission to the United Nations and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz) Running time: 02:47:51 Language(s) available: English

Wednesday 25 April 2012

World IP Day theme 2012 is" visionary innovators" - World Intellectual Property Day

Message from Director General Francis Gurry

World Intellectual Property Day - April 26, 2012

World Intellectual Property Day is an opportunity to celebrate the contribution that intellectual property makes to innovation and cultural creation – and the immense good that these two social phenomena bring to the world.
It is an opportunity to create greater understanding about the role of intellectual property as a balancing mechanism between the competing interests which surround innovation and cultural creation: the interests of the individual creator and those of society; the interests of the producer and those of the consumer; the interest in encouraging innovation and creation, and the interest in sharing the benefits that derive from them.
This year the theme of World IP Day is visionary innovators – people whose innovations transform our lives. Their impact is enormous. They can, at times, change the way society operates.

Take the Chinese innovator, Cai Lun. He laid the foundations for the manufacturing of paper - a technology that transformed everything, because it enabled the recording of knowledge. Then there was the invention of moveable type. This was taken up in Europe by Johannes Gutenberg with his invention of the printing press, which in turn enabled the dissemination and democratization of knowledge. In our own lifetimes we have witnessed the migration of content to digital format, and the great distributional power for creative works that has been brought about by the Internet and the development of the World Wide Web – for whom we have to thank, among others, Tim Berners Lee.

Behind many extraordinary innovations there are extraordinary human stories. At a time when there were few female scientists, Marie Curie Sklodowska had to struggle to establish herself as a scientist in her own right as opposed to the wife of a scientist. She also struggled as an immigrant working in another community. Her desire to understand led to the fundamental discoveries for which she was awarded two Nobel prizes in two separate disciplines - in physics and in chemistry - the only person ever to have achieved this.
In the arts, innovation revolves around new ways of seeing things. A visionary artist or a composer or a writer is able to show us a different way, a new way of looking at the world. Bob Dylan, for example: he captured what was in the air and transformed several genres of music, essentially bending the genres of folk and rock music. Or consider architects – like Zaha Hadid or Norman Foster - who are transforming urban landscapes, and beautifying our existence in new ways, while at the same time taking into account the need to preserve the environment.

We are dependent upon innovation to move forward. Without innovation we would remain in the same condition as a human species that we are in now. Yet inventions or innovations - in the health field for example – are of relatively little value to society unless they can be used and shared. This is the great policy dilemma. On the one hand, the cost of innovation in modern medicine is enormous. On the other hand, the need for compassion, and the need for sharing useful innovations, is also enormous.

I believe we should look upon intellectual property as an empowering mechanism to address these challenges.
But we have to get the balances right, and that is why it is so important to talk about intellectual property. On this World Intellectual Property Day I would encourage young people in particular to join in the discussion, because intellectual property is, by definition, about change, about the new. It is about achieving the transformations that we want to achieve in society.

On World Malaria Day, UN calls for more funding to eradicate disease

25 April 2012 - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on countries to intensify their efforts to combat malaria, stressing that despite remarkable progress in recent years, much more needs to be done to end the “monumental tragedy” of one child dying every minute from the disease. In his message to mark World Malaria Day, Mr. Ban highlighted the role international partnerships between governments, international agencies, donors, corporations and civil society organizations, among other actors, which have saved millions of lives through their work.

Running time: 00:01:29
Language(s) available: English

Secretary-General Says ‘Monumental Tragedy’ That One Child Dies Every Minute from Malaria, But Hope Offered by Coalition That Has Saved More Than a Million Lives

23 April 2012
Secretary-General
SG/SM/14247
OBV/1094

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

Secretary-General Says ‘Monumental Tragedy’ That One Child Dies Every Minute from Malaria, But Hope Offered by Coalition That Has Saved More Than a Million Lives



Following is Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on World Malaria Day, observed 25 April:

Last year on World Malaria Day, we mourned the fact that one child died every 45 seconds from this disease.  This year, we have managed to slow the clock.  It remains a monumental tragedy that one child dies every minute from malaria, but we can draw some hope from the many lives saved through international interventions.

More children are sleeping safely under nets, more families are gathering in rooms protected from mosquitoes, more communities have access to testing, and more patients get the medicines they need to recover.

A global coalition has boosted proven strategies, including long-lasting insecticidal nets, indoor spraying, rapid diagnostic tests and anti-malaria medicines for populations at risk.

Thanks to this remarkable partnership bringing together Governments, international agencies, donors, researchers, corporations, philanthropists and a range of civil society organizations and concerned individuals.

Their efforts have saved more than a million lives.  Since 2000, malaria mortality rates have fallen by more than a quarter globally, and by more than a third in Africa.

Now is the time to push for much greater progress.  Achieving near zero malaria deaths is one of key priorities in the action agenda I have established for the next five years.

In our world of plenty, there is no excuse for not making smart and affordable investments in malaria interventions.  A rapid diagnostic test costs about 50 cents, while a course of an anti-malaria drug costs only about $1.  A bed net that lasts three years and can protect several children costs approximately $5.

These are modest sums, and we can lower costs even further if we fund research to find better solutions.  Even as we seek to prevent malaria deaths today, we must invest in the next generation of anti-malaria tools to fight emerging resistance and continue our drive towards a vaccine.  We need to better coordinate our efforts to test, treat and track the disease.

On this World Malaria Day, let us collectively pledge to close the $3.2 billion funding gap to achieve and maintain universal coverage in Africa up to 2015 — and ultimately to reach our goal of defeating this disease

* *** *

WORLD MALARIA DAY 2012

In 2010, about 3.3 billion people - almost half of the world's population - were at risk of malaria. Every year, this leads to about 216 million malaria cases and an estimated 655 000 deaths. People living in the poorest countries are the most vulnerable.
World Malaria Day - which was instituted by the World Health Assembly at its 60th session in May 2007 - is a day for recognizing the global effort to provide effective control of malaria. It is an opportunity:
  • for countries in the affected regions to learn from each other's experiences and support each other's efforts;
  • for new donors to join a global partnership against malaria;
  • for research and academic institutions to flag their scientific advances to both experts and general public; and
  • for international partners, companies and foundations to showcase their efforts and reflect on how to scale up what has worked.

Related links

World Intellectual Property Day 2012 – " Visionary Innovators "

World Intellectual Property Day is observed annually on 26 April. The event was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000 to "raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life" and "to celebrate creativity, and the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies across the globe". 26 April was chosen as this was the date on which the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization entered into force in 1970.
Each year, a message or theme is associated with the event:
  • 2001 – Creating the Future Today
  • 2002 – Encouraging Creativity
  • 2003 – Make Intellectual Property Your Business
  • 2004 – Encouraging Creativity
  • 2005 – Think, Imagine, Create
  • 2006 – It Starts With An Idea
  • 2007 – Encouraging Creativity
  • 2008 – Celebrating innovation and promoting respect for intellectual property
  • 2009 – Green Innovation
  • 2010 – Innovation – Linking the World
  • 2011 – Designing the Future
  • 2012 – Visionary Innovators

Australian GG Quentin Bryce's Anzac Day address

LEST WE FORGET

THE ODE...

They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

ANZAC DAY 25th April



ANZAC DAY 2012 - Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia

Tuesday 24 April 2012

World Book and Copyright Day 2012 - Irina Bokova, UNESCO

World Book and Copyrights Day 2012 - Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General

World Press Freedom Day 2012 in Palestine

World Press Freedom Day in Palestine: Strengthening Legal and Ethical Standards in a New Media Landscape

A one-day seminar to commemorate World Press Day will be held at the Birzeit University´s Law Institute in the West Bank on 2 May, and a second one will take place at the premises of Birzeit University´s Media Development Center in Gaza on 10 May. These local commemorations of World Press Freedom Day will focus on the theme “Legal and Ethical Framework for Journalism in Palestine: Challenges in a New Media Environment”. They are being organized by the Media Development Centre at Birzeit University with the support of UNESCO and Canal France International.

Palestinian journalists work in a volatile context characterized by especially difficult circumstances. On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), key actors in the media field will be brought together to raise awareness about the obstacles to freedom of expression in Palestine. They will discuss how to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework to ensure the respect of the rights of journalists and bloggers, guaranteeing their judiciary protection and taking into consideration emerging issues in an increasingly interconnected and fast evolving media landscape. Also at the core of the debate will be the promotion of ethical journalistic standards, and self-regulation mechanisms created and followed voluntarily by media professionals. 

Journalists and bloggers; media outlets owners, editors and managers; representatives of professional associations; academics and students; civil society practitioners; officials from local and international public institutions are expected to join the discussions in the West Bank and Gaza. 

Key media stakeholders have contributed to the development of the agenda of the celebration of World Press Freedom Day in Palestine, including WAFA news agency, Ma’an news agency, Palestine TV, I’lam Media Center in Nazareth, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate in Ramallah and the Government Media Center.
Speakers at the event in the West Bank will include renowned international and local media experts like Toby Mendel, Executive Director of the Centre for Law and Democracy (Canada); Aref Hijjawi, former Head of Programmes at Al Jazeera (Qatar); Raed Othman, Director of Ma’an News Agency (Palestine); Waleed Shurafa, Head of the Media Department at Birzeit University (Palestine), and Ghasan Al-Khataib, Director of the Government Media Centre (Palestine). 

The concept note prepared by Birzeit University's Media Development Center for WPFD in Palestine is available here, and the agenda for the event in the West Bank can be accessed here. More information about the seminar in Gaza will be made available soon.  
UNESCO is supporting the WPFD celebrations in the West Bank and Gaza within the framework of a broader agreement with Canal France International focused on supporting media in countries in transition or affected by conflict.

The role of media as a catalyst for social and political change.

World Press Freedom Day celebrates the power of the media to bring about social and political change

 

UNESCO will celebrate World Press Freedom Day (3 May) in Tunis this year, with a packed three-day programme of events focused on the role of media as a catalyst for social and political change.
One of the highlights of World Press Freedom Day 2012 will be the award ceremony on 3 May for the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. This year’s laureate, Azerbaijani journalist and human rights activist Eynulla Fatullayev, will attend the ceremony. Addresses will also be made by with the President of Tunisia Moncef Marzouki, and the Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova.
            On the morning of 4 May, the Director-General and the Prime Minister of Tunisia Hamed Jebali will open an international conference on the theme of  “New Voices: Media Freedom Helping to Transform Societies” .

The conference will divided into three debates, held over 4 and 5 May:

Media Freedom Helping to Transform Societies: New Voices, Youth, and Social Media will look at how the convergence of social media, mobile connections and satellite television has generated growth in freedom of expression. This in turn unleashed the protest movement that began in Tunisia in December in 2010 before spreading through much of the Arab world and beyond.
            The Reshaping of the Media Landscape in aTransitional Environment is the subject of the second session. It will focus on the changes experienced by government-owned media and their ability to become public service operators that meet high journalistic standards in a self-regulating environment.
            Finally, a Special Plenary Session on Tunisia will examine the way forward for the media in the country. Participants will include  the Minister of Human Rights and Transitional Justice, Samir Dilou and international participants such as Abdelkrim Hizaoui, Director of the Centre africain de perfectionnement des journalistes et des communicateurs.
            For the first time, this year’s World Press Freedom Day event also includes a number of side events, organised by UNESCO’s press freedom partners, including non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations, international media outlets and youth groups. Information about  these events is available online.
Journalists wishing to cover the conference and linked activities are invited to register here.
****
World Press Freedom Day   programme

Media contacts
In Tunis: Mehdi Benchelah - m.benchelah(at)unesco.org
In Paris: Roni Amelan – r.amelam(at)unesco.org; +33 1 4568 1706

Sunday 22 April 2012

President Obama's Message to the People of Sudan and South Sudan

April 20, 2012 - The President is deeply committed to seeing Sudan and South Sudan become two economically prosperous states living side-by-side in peace.

Earth Day 2012 - President Barack Obama Message

Presidential Actions • Proclamations
 
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary

Presidential Proclamation -- Earth Day

EARTH DAY, 2012
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
On April 22, 1970, millions of Americans came together to celebrate the first Earth Day.  Students, teachers, activists, elected officials, and countless others challenged our Nation to confront our most urgent environmental issues and rallied around a single message:  the success of future generations depends upon how we act today.  As we commemorate Earth Day this year, we reflect on the challenges that remain before us and recommit to the spirit of togetherness and shared responsibility that galvanized a movement 42 years ago.
America rose to meet the call to action in the months and years that followed the first Earth Day.  We passed the Clean Air, Clean Water, Endangered Species, and Marine Mammal Protection Acts; founded the Environmental Protection Agency; and ignited a spirit of stewardship that has driven progress for over four decades.  Today, our air and water are cleaner, pollution has been greatly reduced, and Americans everywhere are living in a healthier environment.
While we have made remarkable progress in protecting our health and our natural heritage, we know our work is not yet finished.  Last July, my Administration proposed the toughest fuel economy standards in our Nation's history -- standards that will save families money at the pump, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and significantly reduce our dependence on oil.  In December, we finalized the first-ever national standards to limit mercury and other toxic emissions from power plants, helping safeguard the health of millions.  We have taken action to protect and restore our Nation's precious ecosystems, from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes.  And we continue to make landmark investments in batteries, biofuels, and renewable energy that are unlocking American innovation and ensuring our Nation stays on the cutting edge.  Our country is on the path to economic recovery and renewal, and moving forward, my Administration will continue to fight for a healthy environment every step of the way.

As we work to leave our children a safe, sustainable future, we must also equip them with the tools they need to take on tomorrow's environmental challenges.  Supporting environmental literacy and a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering, and math for every student will help ensure our youth have the skills and knowledge to advance our clean energy economy.  Last year, we launched the Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools recognition award to encourage more schools to pursue sustainability, foster health and wellness, and integrate environmental literacy into the curriculum.  In the days ahead, we look forward to awarding the first Green Ribbons and recognizing the accomplishments of green schools across our country.

Forty-two years ago, a generation rallied together to protect the earth we would inherit.  As we reflect on that historic day of activism and stewardship, let us embrace our commitment to the generations yet to come by leaving them a safe, clean world on which to make their mark.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 22, 2012, as Earth Day.  I encourage all Americans to participate in programs and activities that will protect our environment and contribute to a healthy, sustainable future.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.
BARACK OBAMA

Wednesday 18 April 2012

“Scientific findings on the impacts of human activities on the functioning of the Earth System,” President of the General Assembly

Remarks by the President of the General Assembly

Interactive Dialogue on Harmony with Nature to Commemorate International Mother Earth Day: “Scientific findings on the impacts of human activities on the functioning of the Earth System,” 18 April 2012

Under–Secretary-General Mr. Sha Zukang, and Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development,

Your Excellency Mr. Rafael Archondo, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to the United Nations,
Eminent Professors,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentleman,

On behalf of the President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, I am pleased to make the following remarks.

Quote:
Let me welcome each of you to this Interactive Dialogue on Harmony with Nature, in commemoration of International Mother Earth Day.

The theme of this year’s International Day is “Scientific findings on the impacts of human activities on the functioning of the Earth System”.

This apt theme was selected by Member States in General Assembly resolution 66/204, and is an implicit recognition of the importance of ensuring harmony with nature through science and multilateral action.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bolivia for initiating this important resolution.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Recent advances in Earth system science confirm that humanity is facing severe risks - risks that negatively impact human development and our existence on Earth.

During the past century, human activities on Earth have resulted in a significant increase of Green House Gas concentrations in the atmosphere, land degradation, the destruction of ecosystems and the depletion of Earth’s biodiversity.

Climate change, desertification and loss of biodiversity pose an unequivocal challenge for human development.

Economic growth associated with unsustainable patterns of consumption and production is hindering our quest for harmony, both within and between societies, as well as between humankind and the natural environment.

I would submit that the world today is deeply engaged in two of the greatest existential questions:
First, how can we sustain life while protecting the planet?
And second, what does that Earth require in order to support seven - soon to be nine - billion people?

We are, for the first time, acknowledging worldwide that the sustainability of life on earth is a serious question that will drive fundamental decisions in our societies and the world at large.

In making such decisions, academic research plays an important role in clarifying these global issues.
The contribution of science and innovation in achieving sustainable development cannot be underestimated.
The effective implementation of the results of scientific research can support, among other things, efficient resource utilization, environmental protection and poverty eradication.

I firmly believe that scientists must guide this new paradigm, and that the UN System should work together towards supporting a stronger science based on sustainable development.
I would encourage Member States to continue to support the academic sector as it explores and explains these profound issues.

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is clear that we have to do more to address the issue of unsustainability.
As a human race, we have the resources, the scientific knowledge and the know-how to save our planet.

I believe that future work on this new paradigm should be supported by a globally recognized and coherent science base, that is capable of creating a strong science-policy interface for sustainable development.
This model would provide practical tools for utilizing natural resources in a more sustainable way, and safeguarding ecosystems by promoting social and economic development at all levels.

Our efforts for achieving sustainable development should be viewed as an investment in the future of humankind.

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) is an opportunity to assess our relationship with nature over the last 20 years; to affirm commitments made in Rio and Johannesburg; and to inject new impetus and genuine innovation towards fostering a sustainable way forward.
The commemoration of the International Day of Mother Earth is therefore both timely and relevant, as we aim to have a successful outcome in Rio next June.

Thank you.

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Mobilize The Earth Video

Earth Day is a day early each year on which events are held worldwide to increase awareness and appreciation of the Earth's natural environment. Earth Day is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and is celebrated in more than 175 countries every year. In 2009, the United Nations designated April 22 International Mother Earth Day.

Earth Day is planned for April 22 in all years at least through 2015.

The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the City of Saint Francis, patron saint of ecology. Earth Day was first observed in San Francisco and other cities on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. This day of nature's equipoise was later sanctioned in a Proclamation signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations where it is observed each year. About the same time a separate Earth Day was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970. While this April 22 Earth Day was focused on the United States, an organization launched by Denis Hayes, who was the original national coordinator in 1970, took it international in 1990 and organized events in 141 nations.

Numerous communities celebrate Earth Week, an entire week of activities focused on environmental issues.

Monday 16 April 2012

The United Nations

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace. The UN was founded in 1945 after World War II to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars between countries, and to provide a platform for dialogue. It contains multiple subsidiary organizations to carry out its missions.

The UN System

United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) - New York, USA (e-mail)
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)  (Preparatory Commision) - Vienna, Austria (e-mail)
United Nations CyberSchoolBus - New York, USA (e-mail)
Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) (now CEB) and its former Subcommittees
 
Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (e-mail)
Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail)
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) - Santiago, Chile (e-mail)
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) - Bangkok, Thailand (e-mail)
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) - Beirut, Lebanon (e-mail
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - Rome, Italy (e-mail)
Global Programme on Globalization, Liberalization and Sustainable Human Development - Geneva, Switzerland [UNCTAD-UNDP] (e-mail)
Former Inter-Agency Committee on Sustainable Development (IACSD) - New York, USA (e-mail)
Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE) (former IACWGE) - New York, USA
Inter-Agency Procurement Services Office (IAPSO) - Copenhagen, Denmark (e-mail)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - Vienna, Austria (e-mail)
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) - Washington, USA  [World Bank Group] (e-mail)
International Bureau of Education (IBE) - Geneva, Switzerland [UNESCO] (e-mail)
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)  - Trieste, Italy [UNIDO] (e-mail)
International Centre for Science and High Technology (ICS) - Trieste, Italy [UNIDO] (e-mail)
International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) - Washington, USA [World Bank Group] (e-mail)
Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) - Trieste, Italy [UNESCO/IAEA] (e-mail)
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) - Montreal, Canada (e-mail)
International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) - New York, USA (e-mail)
International Computing Centre (ICC) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail
International Court of Justice (ICJ) - The Hague, The Netherlands (e-mail)
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) - The Hague, The Netherlands (e-mail)
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) - Arusha, Tanzania (e-mail)
International Development Association (IDA) - Washington, USA [World Bank Group] (e-mail)
International Finance Corporation (IFC) - Washington, USA [World Bank Group] (e-mail)
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) - Rome, Italy (e-mail)
International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) - Paris, France [UNESCO] (e-mail)
International Institute on Ageing (INIA) - Valetta, Malta (e-mail)
International Labour Organization (ILO) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail)
International Maritime Organization (IMO) - London, UK (e-mail)
International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Washington, USA (e-mail)
International Seabed Authority (ISA) - Kingston, Jamaica (e-mail)
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR)  - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail)
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail)
International Trade Centre (ITC) - Geneva, Switzerland [UNCTAD/WTO] (e-mail
International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC/ILO) - Turin, Italy (e-mail)
 
Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail)
 
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) - Washington, USA [World Bank Group] (e-mail)
United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) - Geneva, Switzerland and New York, USA (e-mail)
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) - Geneva, Switzerland and New York, USA  (e-mail)
Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) - Vienna, Austria (e-mail)
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) - The Hague, The Netherlands (e-mail)
Panel of External Auditors of the United Nations, the Specialized Agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency - New York, USA (e-mail)
ReliefWeb - Geneva, Switzerland [OCHA] (e-mail)
United Nations (UN) - New York, USA (e-mail)
United Nations Atlas of the Oceans - Washington, USA 
United Nations Board of Auditors - New York, USA (e-mail)
United Nations Capital Development Fund - New York, USA (e-mail)
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) - New York, USA (e-mail)
United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) - Vienna, Austria (e-mail)
United Nations Common Supplier Database (UNCSD) - Oslo, Norway (e-mail)
United Nations Communications Group (former JUNIC) - New York, USA (e-mail)
United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail)
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail)
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) - Bonn, Germany (e-mail)
United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) (now UNODC)- Vienna, Austria (e-mail)
United Nations Development Group (UNDG) - New York, USA (e-mail)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - New York, USA (e-mail)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - Paris, France (e-mail)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Nairobi, Kenya (e-mail)
United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) -  New York, USA  (e-mail)
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - Bonn, Germany (e-mail)
United Nations Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP) - New York, USA (e-mail)
United Nations Geographic Information Working Group (UNGIWG)  -  New York, USA (e-mail)
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Office of the (OHCHR) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Office of the (UNHCR) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail)
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)- Nairobi, Kenya (e-mail)
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) - Vienna, Austria (e-mail)
United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force (UNICT TF)  - New York, USA  (e-mail)
United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail)
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail)
United Nations International School (UNIS) - New York, USA (e-mail)
United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) - Rome, Italy (e-mail
United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) - New York, USA (e-mail)
United Nations Mine Action Service - New York, USA (e-mail)
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (formely UNDCP) - Vienna, Austria (e-mail)
United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail)
United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) - Nairobi, Kenya (e-mail)
United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV) - Vienna, Austria (e-mail)
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) - New York, USA (e-mail)
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) - New York, USA (e-mail)
United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) - Vienna, Austria (e-mail)
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) - Gaza, Gaza Strip and Amman, Jordan (e-mail)
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail)
United Nations Resident Coordinators Network (RCNet) - New York, USA (e-mail)
United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) - Vienna, Austria  (e-mail)
UN System Network on Rural Development and Food Security -  Rome, Italy [FAO/IFAD] (e-mail)
United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) - Turin, Italy (e-mail)
United Nations University (UNU) - Tokyo, Japan (e-mail)
United Nations Volunteers (UNV) - Bonn, Germany (e-mail)
UN Women - United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (e-mail)
United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - Madrid, Spain  (e-mail)
Universal Postal Union (UPU) - Bern, Switzerland (e-mail)
WomenWatch - New York, USA (e-mail)
World Bank Group - Washington, USA (e-mail)
World Food Programme (WFP) - Rome, Italy (e-mail)
World Health Organization (WHO) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail)
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail)
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail
World Trade Organization (WTO) - Geneva, Switzerland (e-mail)
World Volunteer Web - Bonn, Germany [UNV] (e-mail