The year 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Its 30 articles affect everyone’s lives – from the need to close the gender pay gap to ensuring everyone has access to education. The UDHR set out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been translated into over 500 languages. Through a series of ongoing activities under the Human Rights 75 initiative, this year provides an opportunity to rejuvenate thinking on how the Declaration is relevant to people today, as human rights bring solutions to the world’s biggest challenges. Under the leadership of UN Human Rights and its partners, the three main goals of the Human Rights 75 Initiative focus on universality, progress and engagement. The initiative culminates in a high-level event in December 2023 that will announce global pledges and ideas for a vision for the future of human rights. To learn more about the initiative, please visit: https://www.ohchr.org/en/human-rights-75      

On 24 October 1945, the United Nations Charter entered into force, giving birth to an international organisation that would become an indispensable force for good around the world: the United Nations (UN). This milestone, known as UN Day, offers an opportunity for celebration and reflection for UN member States. This includes the Caribbean, where UN Day is commemorated with fervour and a diverse array of activities that showcase the region's commitment to the principles of peace, justice, and sustainability. This year, the call for peace and the cessation of conflicts that affect thousands of people around the world proved to be the common thread tying together UN Day activities in the region. This story explores how several Caribbean nations commemorate this occasion, highlighting their unique contributions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)!   Barbados: A Parliament bathed in blue   In Barbados, the historic Parliament Building in Bridgetown was transformed into a radiant sea of blue as the United Nations collaborated with the Government of Barbados to mark the UN's 78th anniversary. This powerful visual symbolised the commitment to UN values of peace, justice, and equality for all. Under the leadership of Her Excellency Dame Sandra Mason, the President of Barbados, the event brought together over 150 distinguished guests, including Parliamentarians, members of the senate, diplomatic representatives, civil society leaders, and private sector stakeholders. They converged in the courtyard of the Parliament for the annual UN Day Reception and Lighting ceremony. The highlight of the evening was the ceremonial illumination of the Parliament, an act that remained a glowing testament to their commitment for a whole week following UN Day. UN Resident Coordinator (RC) for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean states, Didier Trebucq, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Hon. Kerrie Symmonds, were the esteemed individuals who flicked the switch, symbolising the unity between the government and the UN. In addition to the formal ceremony, the evening was filled with joyous moments. Guests relished delicious food and enjoyed lively entertainment, including performances by former Calypso Monarch and Barbados' Cultural Ambassador, The Hon. Stedson "Red Plastic Bag" Wiltshire, and young steel pannist Judah Goddard. Celebrations extended to Friday, 27 October, with a Staff Day at UN House. It was a day of fun and healthy competition, including activities like the SDG Costume competition, the UN Iron Chef Competition, and a team SDG Scavenger Hunt. This day they also placed a strong emphasis on staff well-being, offering mini massages and a catered lunch.   Jamaica: Threading through UN history   In Jamaica, the UN Country Team joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade for a UN Day celebration at the new foreign affairs building in the country's capital city, Kingston. Officials highlighted Jamaica's rich history of support for and participation in the multilateral process through the UN. Acting UN Resident Coordinator, Ian Stein, joined the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, The Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, and the State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, The Hon. Alando Terrelonge, in delivering remarks at the ceremony, celebrating the signing of the UN Charter, the history of Jamaica at the UN, and some of the interventions the country has led at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) since becoming a member State in 1962. Jamaican youth representatives were also in attendance at the ceremony which saw the Resident Coordinator joining local heads of UN offices, agencies, funds and programmes to participate in several panel discussions, fireside chats and the cutting of a UN 78th anniversary cake. The UN in Jamaica also partnered with civil society organisation, The United Nations Association of Jamaica, for a UN Day activity that brought together scores of young people at the Hillel Academy in Kingston, Jamaica. Participants discussed and generated ideas for peace building within the context of Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG16): peace, justice and strong institutions. UNICEF, representing the UN Country Team, presented on digital innovations and other resources available to help youth navigate the challenges of the modern world: from mental health to skills building.   Trinidad and Tobago: Grow local, buy local   The UN in Trinidad and Tobago hosted a reception that tapped local food artisans from vegan ice cream to steaming hot coffee brewed from locally grown beans. Trinidad and Tobago's food artisans were the stars of UN Day celebrations this year. Under the slogan “Grow Local, Buy Local”, these micro-entrepreneurs demonstrated how they grow and handcraft niche products such as chocolate, jams, cassava brownies, Moruga Hill Rice muffins, fruit bowls, and iced tea using environmentally friendly, sustainable practices. This significant event, organised by the UN Country Team and the Office of the Resident Coordinator, brought together representatives from various sectors, including government officials, development organisations, the diplomatic corps, civil society, the private sector, and UN staff. The occasion was marked by speeches and reflections on the UN's essential role in addressing global challenges, highlighting the country's commitment to multilateralism, sustainable development, and human rights. UN Resident Coordinator Joanna Kazana delivered a keynote address at the reception, emphasising the indispensable role of the United Nations in a world characterised by cascading crises and complex challenges. She underscored the need for collective international efforts to address issues ranging from conflict and insecurity to climate change. Kazana's remarks reinforced the importance of upholding the values enshrined in the UN Charter, a guiding light for nations striving to build a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world. Minister of Planning and Development in Trinidad and Tobago, The Hon. Pennelope Beckles, also addressed the attendees during the event. Minister Beckles reiterated Trinidad and Tobago's steadfast commitment to multilateralism, sustainable development, and human rights. Her remarks reflected the nation's dedication to actively participating in global efforts to tackle pressing challenges, recognising the importance of international cooperation and the UN's role in fostering it. Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Dr. The Honourable Amery Browne, delivered an important message reaffirming Trinidad and Tobago's commitment to the principles of the UN Charter. Dr. Browne highlighted the significance of human rights and sustainable development in the country's foreign policy and diplomatic engagements. This commitment mirrors the values upheld by the UN, making it a natural partner for Trinidad and Tobago in achieving common global objectives.   Guyana: Reaching the fourth estate    The United Nations in Guyana marked UN Day with a series of media engagements that underscored the UN's global agenda in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN Country Team hosted a "media editors' breakfast", which also included the participation of the Guyana Press Association. The UN Resident Coordinator in Guyana, Yeşim Oruç, updated the media on the results of the UN System's work in the country. This annual engagement sought to strengthen relations with the leadership of media entities, recognising the vital role of the media as advocates for the sustainable development agenda in Guyana. On UN Day, the UN Resident Coordinator participated in television and radio appearances. Her message to the public placed emphasis on the pillars on which the UN Charter was built - peace, development and human rights. Ms. Oruç said, “…it is ultimately the actions of people and of countries that uphold the UN – the only global organisation which belongs to all nations, to all people.” She updated on Guyana’s recent Voluntary National Review (VNR), which showcased the country’s achievements made to advance progress on several SDGs. The UN in Guyana also hosted two special events to show appreciation to its staff: a 24 October townhall helped to reinforce the importance of the UN system in driving the national development agenda; and a staff Games Day on 27 October, added an element of fun and competition. On 31 October, Guyana's Human Resources Working Group hosted a health fair focused on the significance of SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. This fair provided essential health services, including dental care, vision screening, medical consultations, and nutritional consultations. The National Blood Transfusion Service was invited and led a blood drive, further emphasising the UN System's commitment to promoting good health and well-being.   Suriname: United in SDG action   The UN in Suriname celebrated UN Day with an SDG Walkathon. The SDG Walkathon attracted more than 300 participants representing UN agencies, government partners, NGOs, diplomatic community and youth. The SDG Walkathon was a fun-filled event that allowed for UN agencies to showcase their vital work in Suriname, offering participants a chance to learn about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the ongoing efforts to achieve them. Participants walked from Independence Square in Paramaribo and proceeded along a 5 km route through the city.  A number of attractions awaited SDG walkathon participants including games, quizzes and photo opportunities. The impressive turnout demonstrated a genuine public interest in sustainability and understanding the global goals and their significance for Suriname's future.     Antigua and Barbuda: A symbol of hope   The Government of Antigua and Barbuda, in collaboration with the United Nations Barbados and Eastern Caribbean, celebrated UN Day with a series of activities that included a flag recognition ceremony. The event served as a symbol of hope and mutual commitment to multilateralism. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade and Barbuda Affairs along with the UN Resident Coordinator delivered remarks during the ceremony which was attended by senior Government, members of the diplomatic corps, civil societies, and UN officials.  Following UN Day, Antigua and Barbuda continued its efforts to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UN Day activities continued with a beach cleanup exercise in collaboration with Adopt a Coastline, an SDG Art Competition, and more.   Bahamas: Youth involvement at the fabric of the UN      The UN Country team in the Bahamas celebrated UN Day 2023 with the first of its kind youth forum and panel discussion with civil society and government partners in the Bahamas. The Resident Coordinator, Dennis Zulu, was in the country for the celebration where he participated in the youth forum, underscoring the pivotal role of the UN in supporting Bahamas’ national development priorities. The event brought together young people in their numbers to engage around the principles and values of the UN as well as the SDGs.    Grenada: Leave no one behind   The United Nations in Grenada celebrated UN Day with its annual Flag raising Ceremony and a panel discussion with youth with disabilities on the topic of ‘Inclusion’. The UN Country Team joined members of the Government for the flag raising Ceremony on the grounds of the country's Ministerial Complex. Grenada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Export Development, The Hon. Joseph Andall, delivered remarks on behalf of the Government of Grenada while Grenada Prime Minister, The Hon. Dickon Mitchell, joined UN Country Coordination Officer, Feona Sandy, for the planting of a Yellow Poui tree in commemoration of the 49 years of Grenada’s membership in the UN. A Panel Discussion was held at the Conference Room of the Windward Island Research and Education Foundation (WINDREF), St. George’s University (SGU). In the spirit of partnership and engaging all in the global Act Now Campaign for the SDGs, the UN collaborated with WINDREF/SGU, FLOW and the Grenada Co-operative Bank on the events.   St. Lucia: Youth debate the world we want    Over in Saint Lucia, the highlight of UN Day celebrations was an SDG Debate competition, organised jointly by the Department of Sustainable Development and the UN Resident Coordinator Satellite Office in Saint Lucia. Six students enrolled in the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College Debating Society, deliberated on the topic: The Immediate Acceleration of the SDGs is Sufficient to Meet 2030 Deadline.   Shyne Savory, Daryn Leslie and Cameron Gustave, who proposed that "yes" the Immediate Acceleration of the SDGs is Sufficient to Meet 2030 Deadline, emerged victorious as the SDG Youth Champions. The audience included students from secondary schools in the north of Saint Lucia, Caribbean Youth Environment Network members, UN staff on the ground and other interested persons. An interesting feature on the programme was the SDG discussion session which provided the opportunity for a thought-provoking dialogue on the SDGs. A Saint Lucia SDG Video was also launched as part of the programme.   Saint Vincent and Grenadines: Charting the course to 2030   In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the UN Country Team organised several public awareness activities for their UN Day celebration. Collaborating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, a flag-raising ceremony was held, along with a School Awareness Session. The School Awareness Session targeted over 35 students from the Adelphi Secondary School, educating them about the United Nations and its support for the country's national development priorities and its vision of achieving the 17 SDGs by 2030.      

The UN’s 193 Member States adopted a landmark legally binding marine biodiversity agreement on Monday following nearly two decades of fierce negotiations over forging a common wave of conservation and sustainability in the high seas beyond national boundaries – covering two thirds of the planet’s oceans. Here are five key points on why it is important for the world. 1. Fresh protection beyond borders While countries are responsible for the conservation and sustainable use of waterways under their national jurisdiction, the high seas now have added protection from such destructive trends as pollution and unsustainable fishing activities. Adopted by the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), the “high seas” treaty aims at taking stewardship of the ocean on behalf of present and future generations, in line with the Convention on the Law of the Sea. The new agreement contains 75 articles that aim at protecting, caring for, and ensuring the responsible use of the marine environment, maintaining the integrity of ocean ecosystems, and conserving the inherent value of marine biological diversity. “The ocean is the lifeblood of our planet, and today, you have pumped new life and hope to give the ocean a fighting chance,” the UN Secretary-General António Guterres told delegates on Monday. 2. Cleaner oceans Toxic chemicals and millions of tons of plastic waste are flooding into coastal ecosystems, killing or injuring fish, sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals, and making their way into the food chain and ultimately being consumed by humans. More than 17 million metric tons of plastic entered the world’s ocean in 2021, making up 85 per cent of marine litter, and projections are expected to double or triple each year by 2040, according to the latest Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) report. According to UN estimates, by 2050, there could be more plastic in the sea than fish unless action is taken. The treaty aims at strengthening resilience and contains provisions based on the polluter-pays principle as well as mechanisms for disputes. Under the treaty’s provisions, parties must assess potential environmental impacts of any planned activities beyond their jurisdictions. 3. Sustainably managing fish stocks More than one third of global fish stocks are over-exploited, according to the UN. The treaty underlines the importance of capacity building and the transfer of marine technology, including the development and strengthening of institutional capacity and national regulatory frameworks or mechanisms. This includes increasing collaboration among regional seas organisations and regional fisheries management organisations. 4. Lowering temperatures Global heating is pushing ocean temperatures to new heights, fuelling more frequent and intense storms, rising sea levels, and the salinisation of coastal lands and aquifers. Addressing these urgent concerns, the treaty offers guidance, including through an integrated approach to ocean management that builds ecosystem resilience to tackle the adverse effects of climate change and ocean acidification, and maintains and restores ecosystem integrity, including carbon cycling services. Treaty provisions also recognise the rights and traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities, the freedom of scientific research, and need for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits. 5. Vital for realising 2030 Agenda The new agreement “is critical to addressing the threats facing the ocean, and to the success of ocean-related goals and targets, including the 2030 Agenda, the UN chief said on Monday. Some of the goals and targets include Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, which aims at, among other things, preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution of all kinds by 2025, and ending overfishing through science-based management plans in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible. The new agreement will enable the establishment of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, to conserve and sustainably manage vital habitats and species in the high seas and the international seabed area. The treaty also considers the special circumstances facing small-island and landlocked developing nations. “We have a new tool,” UN General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi told the Intergovernmental Conference delegates on Monday. “This landmark achievement bears witness to your collective commitment to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Together, you laid the foundation for a better stewardship of our seas, ensuring their survival for generations to come.” Learn more about how the UN is working to protect the world’s oceans here. ............................................. This article was first published by UN News and can be viewed here.

Alarm over the potential threat posed by the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) must not obscure the damage already being done by digital technologies that enable the spread of online hate speech, as well as mis- and disinformation, he said.   The policy brief argues that they should be integral players in upholding the accuracy, consistency and reliability of information shared by users.   “My hope is that it will provide a gold standard for guiding action to strengthen information integrity,” he wrote in the introduction.  Connecting and dividing  Digital platforms – which include social media channels, search engines and messaging apps – are connecting billions of people across the planet, with some three billion users of Facebook alone.  They have brought many benefits, from supporting communities in times of crisis and struggle, to helping to mobilize global movements for racial justice and gender equality.  They are also used by the UN to engage people worldwide in pursuit of peace, dignity and human rights on a healthy planet.    Yet these same digital platforms are being misused to subvert science and spread disinformation and hate, fuelling conflict, threatening democracy and human rights, and undermining public health and climate action.   "Some of our own UN peacekeeping missions and humanitarian aid operations have been targeted, making their work even more dangerous," he said. Deceitful, dangerous and deadly  Although misinformation, disinformation and hate speech are related and overlap, they are distinct phenomena.   Hate speech refers to abusive or threatening language against a group or person, simply because of their race, colour, religion, ethnicity, nationality, or similar grounds.  The difference between mis- and disinformation is intent, though the distinction can be difficult to determine. In general, misinformation refers to the unintentional spread of inaccurate information, while disinformation is not only inaccurate but intended to deceive.  Regardless, they have all proved to be dangerous and even deadly.  “While traditional media remain an important source of news for most people in conflict areas, hatred spread on digital platforms has also sparked and fuelled violence,” the report said.  “Some digital platforms have faced criticism of their role in conflicts, including the ongoing war in Ukraine.”  Safer digital space  Given the threat, the Secretary-General has called for coordinated international action to make the digital space safer and more inclusive while also protecting human rights.  Constructive responses have largely been lacking. Some tech companies have done far too little to prevent their platforms from contributing to the spread of violence and hatred, while Governments have sometimes resorted to drastic measures – including internet shutdowns and bans – that lack any legal basis and infringe on human rights.   Code of Conduct  The report puts forward the framework for global action though a Code of Conduct for information integrity on digital platforms, that outlines potential guardrails while safeguarding the rights to freedom of expression and information.   It will build on principles that include respect for human rights, support for independent media, increased transparency, user empowerment and strengthened research and data access.  The Secretary-General also provided recommendations that could inform the Code of Conduct.  They include a call for Governments, tech companies and other stakeholders to refrain from using, supporting, or amplifying disinformation and hate speech for any purpose.   Governments should also guarantee a free, viable, independent, and plural media landscape, with strong protections for journalists.  Meanwhile, digital platforms should ensure safety and privacy by design in all products, alongside consistent application of policies and resources across countries and languages.  All stakeholders should take urgent and immediate measures to ensure that all AI applications are safe, secure, responsible and ethical, and comply with human rights obligations, he added.  Advertisers and digital platforms should ensure that ads are not placed next to online mis- or disinformation or hate speech, and that ads containing disinformation are not promoted.  Our common future  The policy brief is the latest in a series of 11 reports based on proposals contained in Our Common Agenda, the Secretary-General’s 2021 report that outlines a vision for future global cooperation and multilateral action.   They are intended to inform discussions ahead of the SDG Summit in September, marking the midpoint towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, and the related Summit of the Future next year. ................................................................... This story was first published to UN News.