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29 November 2023
Secretary-General message on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
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26 November 2023
Call to action: UNiTE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls!
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25 November 2023
UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls
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The Sustainable Development Goals in the Caribbean
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the Earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. The United Nations in the Caribbean is supporting delivery on all 17 goals:
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27 November 2023
UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls
How much does the world care about ending violence against women and girls? We don’t know.
What we do know, is that the human cost of violence against women and girls is incalculable.
One in three women experience physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime.
Violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations.
The COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts and climate change have exacerbated the risks for this violence and generated new threats, amplifying the vulnerability of women and girls.
Violence against women and girls disrupts peace and stability within families and communities. It triggers myriad costs to societies in healthcare, education, social protection, justice and productivity, preventing economies from achieving their full potential.
The solution lies in robust responses, including investment in prevention.
However, alarmingly, data on how much nations are committing to counteract violence against women and girls remains glaringly sparse.
Supporting and investing in women’s rights organizations is key to ending violence against women and girls.
Research shows that the presence of a strong and autonomous feminist movement is the single most critical factor to drive policy change in ending violence against women and girls both in domestic and global policy making.
Women’s organizations play a vital role in providing services on a local level, bolstering women’s empowerment and reaching those at risk of being left furthest behind.
Yet, only 1 percent of gender-focused state aid is directed to these organizations, and funding has not improved despite increased momentum and clear evidence of need.
Only one quarter of countries have systems to track budget allocations for gender equality overall. Data on national budgets to address violence against women and girls are hardly available.
According to the latest research, 78 per cent of countries have budgetary commitments to implement legislation addressing violence against women.
But it is unclear how countries are integrating prevention across different sectors, including education, health, economic development and social protection.
That is why, during this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, we are asking you to show us how much you care.
We call on all citizens: Tell us how you are taking action.
Are you using your creativity to promote a message of zero tolerance to violence? Do you use your time to engage with grassroots organizations working for a world where women and men have equal rights? Or are you perhaps questioning gender stereotypes that contribute to a culture of violence against women in online and offline conversations?
We also call on governments worldwide: Invest in prevention to eradicate violence against women and girls.
Every effort invested in preventing violence against women is a step towards a safer, more equal and prosperous world.
Violence costs us all.
Join us in demanding investments and actions to end it.
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15 November 2023
Marking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
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
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06 November 2023
UN Day celebrations in the Caribbean: A tapestry of commitment and unity
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.
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20 June 2023
Beyond borders: Why new 'high seas' treaty is critical for the world
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.
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This article was first published by UN News and can be viewed here.
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13 June 2023
UN chief calls for new era of social media integrity in bid to stem misinformation
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.
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This story was first published to UN News.
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29 November 2023
Secretary-General message on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
This International Day of Solidarity comes during one of the darkest chapters in the history of the Palestinian people. I am horrified by the death and destruction that have engulfed the region, which is overwhelmed with pain, anguish and heartache.
Palestinians in Gaza are suffering a humanitarian catastrophe. Almost 1.7 million people have been forced from their homes – but nowhere is safe. Meanwhile, the situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, risks boiling over.
I express my sincere condolences to the thousands of families who are mourning loved ones. This includes members of our own United Nations family killed in Gaza, representing the largest loss of personnel in the history of our organization.
I have been clear in my condemnation of the terror attacks by Hamas on 7 October. But I have also been clear that they cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.
Across the region, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency is an indispensable lifeline, delivering vital support to millions of Palestinian refugees. It is more important than ever that the international community stands with UNRWA as a source of support for the Palestinian people.
Above all, this is a day for reaffirming international solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to live in peace and dignity.
That must start with a long-term humanitarian ceasefire, unrestricted access for lifesaving aid, the release of all hostages, the protection of civilians and an end to violations of international humanitarian law. We must be united in demanding an end to the occupation and the blockade of Gaza.
It is long past time to move in a determined, irreversible way towards a two-State solution, on the basis of United Nations resolutions and international law, with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.
The United Nations will not waver in its commitment to the Palestinian people. Today and every day, let us stand in solidarity with the aspirations of the Palestinian people to achieve their inalienable rights and build a future of peace, justice, security and dignity for all.
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26 November 2023
Call to action: UNiTE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls!
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains alarmingly high in every sphere of their lives, whether private, public, or online. Each year, 245 million women and girls aged 15 and older globally experience physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by a current or former intimate partner [1]. In 2022, nearly 89,000 women and girls worldwide were killed intentionally, the highest yearly number recorded in the past two decades. Conflict and crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, further increase the risk of violence against women and girls. Violence against women and girls is becoming more “normalized” in some countries as pushback intensifies against efforts to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. However, there is nothing normal about this violence.
Every incident can have a profound and lasting impact on survivors’ lives, as well as impacting their families, children, communities, and society. The global cost of violence against women is huge—estimated to be at least USD 1.5 trillion or approximately 2 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP). Yet its impact is often invisible or ignored, when instead it should be featured and funded at the highest levels of the political agenda.
We have robust evidence that VAWG is preventable, yet financial commitments to that prevention remain scant, short-term, and unevenly distributed. Less than 0.2 per cent of the USD 204 billion in Official Development Assistance (ODA) is directed towards VAWG prevention [2], with some regions missing out on prevention investment altogether [3]. Moreover, little is known about existing investments in prevention, due to the lack of consistent monitoring of national budgets.
We urgently need a more effective global response.
We know how to achieve real, widespread, and sustained impact. We need national action plans that are resourced and have clear multi-sectoral roles and responsibilities, enforcement of legislation and policies, and quality survivor-centred essential services for all women and girls in all contexts. We also need funding to support a sustained scale-up of evidence-based prevention strategies, such as those guided by the multi-agency RESPECT women Framework, the What Works Programme, or the work of the Spotlight Initiative.
The Spotlight Initiative has engaged 2 million men and boys on positive masculinity and mobilized grass-roots efforts to transform harmful social and discriminatory gender norms, attitudes, and beliefs. With its support, 43 countries have strengthened their National Action Plans to eliminate gender-based violence. Through adopting a comprehensive, whole-of-society approach that invests deeply in both civil society and governments, the Initiative is also on track to prevent 21 million women and girls from experiencing violence by 2025.
We need to further invest in and strengthen new partnerships, including with non-traditional partners. Platforms such as the Generation Equality Gender-Based Violence Action Coalition are unlocking political will and fostering significant gender-responsive investments. In 2023, commitment makers reported over USD 5 billion in financial pledges and over 600 programmes being implemented to address gender-based violence [4].
As part of the Secretary-General’s UNiTE campaign this year, we call for sustained political commitment from all our partners across the whole of government, civil society, academia, and the private sector. We also call for increased domestic financing, ODA, and private and philanthropic financing, at local, national, and regional levels, to drive down the prevalence of VAWG, including in humanitarian settings. And we call for the scale-up and support that will ensure a well-resourced and resilient women’s movement, with long-term, core and flexible funding for women’s rights and women-led organizations.
The time to accelerate action is now. It will take dedicated and bold investment for countries to achieve the sustainable development target of eliminating VAWG by the end of this decade. The costs of inaction are too great.
Today, we call upon everyone, to unite and invest, to prevent violence against women and girls.
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
International Development Law Organization
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
The Platform of Independent Expert Mechanisms on the Elimination of Discrimination and Violence against Women (EDVAW Platform)
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Development Programme
Spotlight Initiative
United Nations Population Fund
Notes
[1] Calculation is based on WHO estimates, see: Violence Against Women Prevalence Estimates (who.int).
[2] This is the estimated yearly average investment in GBV prevention (USD 410 million) as a percentage share of overall ODA in 2022 (USD 204 billion), from the report on “What Counts? The state of funding for the prevention of gender-based violence against women and girls” by The Accelerator for GBV Prevention and The Equality Institute (2023).
[3] Ibid.
[4] Accountability report of the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence, UN Women (2023).
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24 November 2023
At least 4,050 women were victims of femicide in Latin America and the Caribbean In 2022: ECLAC
In 2022, at least 4,050 women were victims of femicide (also known as feminicide) in 26 countries and territories of Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the latest data that official agencies reported to the Gender Equality Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean (GEO) of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). This is equivalent to one gender-related killing of a woman every two hours in the region.
“It is not possible to identify an upward or downward trend in the rates of femicide or feminicide in each country, since the variations are small and do not reflect an increase or decrease in the problem,” ECLAC explains in a new report on this issue. However, the United Nations regional organization stresses, it can be affirmed that femicide persists in the region, despite greater public awareness, legislative advances, progress in the measurement of cases and the state response.
Of the 19 countries and territories in Latin America that reported the number of femicides or gender-related killings of women in 2022, the highest rates were seen in Honduras (6.0 per 100,000 women), the Dominican Republic (2.9) and El Salvador and Uruguay (1.6). The lowest rates (meaning less than 1 victim per 100,000 women) were observed in Puerto Rico and Peru (0.9), Colombia (0.8), Costa Rica (0.7), Nicaragua (0.5), Chile (0.4) and Cuba (0.3).
In the Caribbean, 46 women were victims of lethal gender violence in the seven countries and territories that provided information corresponding to 2022. The highest number of cases by far was in Trinidad and Tobago (43).
“We will not get tired of saying this: Latin America and the Caribbean has a duty to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. It is unacceptable that more than 4,000 women and girls are murdered each year in our countries on the basis of gender,” José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, said just before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women , which is commemorated each year on November 25 and launches 16 days of activism through to December 10, which is International Human Rights Day.
In the context of his official visit to Chile, the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, participated in one of the commemoration and awareness-raising activities that ECLAC and the UN System in the country carry out each year in the framework of the UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign .
Launched in 2008, this initiative by the UN’s highest authority calls on governments, civil society, women’s organizations, young people, the private sector, media and the UN system to join forces to prevent and eliminate this true global pandemic. The theme this year is “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls.”
Femicide is simply the most extreme expression of inequality, discrimination and the multiple forms of violence against women and girls, ECLAC reiterates. For example, according to specialized national surveys from 10 countries in the region, between 42% and 79% of women (around 2 out of every 3) have been victims of gender violence in different areas of their lives. In addition, on average, 1 in 3 women has been or currently is a victim of physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by someone who was, or is, their partner, which entails the risk of lethal violence, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This corresponds to 88 million women over 15 years of age in Latin America and the Caribbean. At the same time, early and forced child marriages and unions are a harmful practice and a manifestation of gender violence that persists and is widespread in the region, affecting 1 in 5 girls.
“Femicidal violence can be prevented with comprehensive and forceful state responses. Profound transformations are urgently needed to ensure that the women and girls of our region can live violence-free lives,” José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs underscored.
More than 70% of the femicide victims in 2022 were between 15 and 44 years of age, according to the information provided by eight Latin American countries. However, 4% of them were under 15 and 8% were aged 60 or older.
In seven countries that reported to ECLAC, at least 400 children, adolescents and other dependents lost their mother or caregiver due to femicide in 2022. On this topic, it is important to note that only eight Latin American countries have created concrete reparation measures to support the dependents of femicide victims, which constitute a fundamental response in building a comprehensive approach.
To prevent femicidal violence, it is also necessary to strengthen data on the existence of prior complaints of violence or precautionary measures (such as restraining orders) that would allow for assessing risks and taking timely action, and thereby averting gender-related killings.
States in the region must increase budget allocations and invest to bolster policies against gender violence with new strategies for responding to the various manifestations of violence such as, for example, gender violence in digital media, ECLAC warns.
In the Buenos Aires Commitment – which was approved in 2022 and proposes a path for moving towards a care society – the region’s countries agreed to “promote the adoption and implementation of laws, policies, comprehensive and multisectoral action plans and educational awareness-raising programs to prevent, address, punish and eliminate all forms of gender-based violence and discrimination against women, adolescent girls and girls in all their diversity, in different areas and manifestations, including harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, child marriage and early unions.”
Moving towards a care society requires transforming patriarchal, discriminatory and violent cultural patterns, ECLAC emphasizes.
In sum, the Commission urges the region’s governments to redouble their efforts aimed at improving record-keeping and information systems; to increase budget resources for public policies that respond comprehensively to victims and survivors; and to invest in effective prevention, strengthening risk assessment and effective protection and reparation measures for victims, and their access to medical, psychosocial, legal assistance and other services, as well as to educational, economic and employment opportunities.
Finally, the Commission clarifies that current information on femicide victims does not enable the construction of a comparable time series for the region’s countries. Several countries have improved their femicide records though legal reforms, which has entailed methodological adjustments that prevent a strict comparison.
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Story
25 November 2023
UNGA President expresses solidarity on Haiti visit
H.E Mr. Francis and his delegation were received in Port-au-Prince by the country’s Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Ariel Henry, the Permanent Representative of Haiti to the United Nations, H.E. Mr. Antonio Rodrigue, and members of the Haitian Government. President Francis met with representatives of political parties, civil society, UN officials and visited a primary school. He reiterated that “the international community has not forgotten the Haitian people” at this time of crisis. The UNGA leader encouraged a resolute commitment to an all-inclusive national dialogue leading to elections and strengthening the rule of law.
New York/Port-au-Prince, 21 November 2023 – The President of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Dennis Francis, concluded a two-day official visit to the Republic of Haiti by expressing support and solidarity with the Haitian people as the country faces multiple crises.
Upon his arrival to the capital city, Port-au-Prince, on Monday, President Francis held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Ariel Henry, and emphasized that the international community has not forgotten the country and its citizens.
They exchanged views on the ongoing political situation in the Caribbean Island, including the impending deployment of a Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), following the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2699.
President Francis encouraged further progress to resolve the political, security and humanitarian challenges in order to focus on the longer-term sustainable development of the country and the well-being of the Haitian people.
The PGA held separate meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Jean Victor Généus, the Minister of Justice, H.E. Ms. Emmelie Prophète, and the Minister of Women’s Affairs, H.E. Ms. Sofia Loréus. The PGA expressed his concern about the escalation of violence including sexual violence against women and girls being committed by gangs and discussed possible mechanisms for enhanced protection.
The President started the second and last day of his visit by receiving a comprehensive briefing on the security situation in the country followed by a meeting with the representatives of UN agencies and funds in Haiti (UN Country Team) at the premises of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). President Francis thanked the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti, Ms. María Isabel Salvador, her deputy Ms. Ulrika Richardson, and all the UN staff in Haiti for their dedication to the execution of their respective mandates under challenging circumstances.
In his encounter with representatives of political parties, the President stressed the urgent need to identify concrete avenues in which the international community can support Haitian-led solutions to restore and maintain the country’s stability and sustainable development. The President further reflected upon the importance of returning to constitutional order and of reinstating Haiti’s most basic public services to meet the needs of the country’s population.
President Francis urged all political actors and national stakeholders to engage in a dialogue facilitated by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) which aims to build political consensus, towards a solution to the current crises.
The President also exchanged with members of civil society and commended their active engagement in national discussions to improve good governance and promote human rights. For the PGA, a successful way forward must include the aspirations and reflections of the larger population. He encouraged the active participation of women, girls and youth as an essential part of an all-inclusive political process on the future of Haiti.
Before returning to New York, the President of the General Assembly paid a visit to the Canapé-Vert School, in Port-au-Prince, and interacted with the students. There he witnessed the discipline of the students and saw the promise and potential of Haiti in their youthful eyes.
President Dennis Francis travelled to Haiti with his Chef de Cabinet, his Special Envoy and Special Adviser-designate on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, as well as his Adviser on Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and a Communications Adviser. Travel costs for the OPGA team were covered by the Office’s Trust Fund.
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Carolina Nazzaro, Media Adviser to the President of the General Assembly: carolina.nazzaro@un.org
Ms. Monica Grayley, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly: grayley@un.org
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Story
21 November 2023
Caribbean journalists address climate and health Issues in five impactful stories
After the successful completion of a comprehensive virtual training program for over fifty journalists in the Caribbean, focused on climate and health reporting, five compelling news features have been published. The storIes highlight critical issues at the intersection of climate change and public health and are available on the Caribbean Investigative Journalism Network's website.
The series of trainings were supported by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) as part of the European Union/CARIFORUM Climate and Health project. The aim was to enhance the skills and knowledge of journalists in the Caribbean region and increase their capacity to report effectively on the pressing challenges posed by climate change to public health. The journalists were immersed in intensive workshops, interactive sessions, and hands-on exercises led by experts in the fields of climate science and public health communication. The training fostered a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between climate change and health outcomes.
Armed with this knowledge, the journalists embarked on their reporting assignments, delving into local communities, speaking with experts, and uncovering stories that matter. The news stories cover a wide array of topics, including the challenges faced by vulnerable communities including the impact on children. Each story provides valuable insights into the inter-relationship between these vital issues, encouraging public discourse and awareness.
Subregional Program Director of the PAHO Caribbean Subregional Office, Dean Chambliss, welcomed the collaboration with the MIC to raise the awareness of the journalists who attended the training as well as the stories published.
“These multimedia features highlight the effects of climate change for Caribbean peoples, the importance of multistakeholder perspectives, and emphasize creative solutions. What is also highly commendable is the emphasis on vulnerable populations in Dominica, Guyana, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines, including indigenous communities, persons with disabilities, children, and farmers. The stories go beyond the numbers and the usual talking points often linked to climate change and health to the impact on lives and livelihoods. This included parents who described how recent intense heat was affecting their children at home and at school, the lack of fresh water, how farmers’ yields were drastically affected, the impact of more severe weather events on persons with disabilities, and the rise in vector-borne diseases,” Mr Chambliss said.
"The Media Institute of the Caribbean is committed to nurturing a cadre of journalists who can not only report news but also drive positive change through their stories," said Kiran Maharaj, President of the MIC. "We are immensely grateful for the support from PAHO, which has enabled us to empower journalists to address critical topics such as climate change and health. The stories produced by our participants are not just news; they are catalysts for informed action and awareness."
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Press Release
23 November 2023
PAHO/WHO and partners donate equipment to support nursing education in Belize
From the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, a country’s health system must build the capacity of healthcare workers to respond to health emergencies efficiently and effectively. Thus, various countries have been investing in human resources for health, especially the nursing workforce. This included enhancing nursing academic programs in the Caribbean where nurses can develop the skills to prepare them for the workforce and any future pandemics.
“Nurses are the foundation and the backbone of the healthcare system, and they are most often the first person the patient encounters,” said Dr. Beth King, Medical Officer at the US Embassy. “I’m really proud to see so much focus on nursing education. If we can provide them with a good foundation and tools, they (nurses) will find a way to succeed and do the best they can for their patients, their families, and their communities.”
In November 2022, Belize was one of the countries selected to participate in a pilot project where PAHO’s collaborating Center at the University of North Carolina as well as the University of the West Indies campus in Barbados assessed the nursing education system in the country, including the School of Nursing at the University of Belize. The team reviewed the academic curricula and inspected classrooms, simulation labs, library, computer rooms, practicum sites and other areas to strengthen nursing education in the country. They also spoke to nursing educators and clinical nursing instructors, nursing and midwifery associations and regulatory bodies, health facility administrators and health professionals, and the MoHW, among others.
“PAHO is very pleased to have provided this technical cooperation to the School of Nursing, University of Belize to help to strengthen nursing education in the country in a sustainable way,” said Dr. Karen Lewis-Bell, PAHO/WHO Representative in Belize. “Working with our collaborating centres on nursing also helped to effect positive changes in the nursing curriculum and to strengthen the practical component of the training. We wish to thank the government of the United States of America for their funding support in this effort.”
This donated equipment came as an additional component from that assessment that will allow nursing students to be placed in practical situations with equipment used in the health sector. The much-needed equipment included those that are essential for diagnosis and treatment such as electrocardiogram machine, aneroid sphygmomanometer, fetal Stethoscope, nebulizer machine, vaginal speculums, instrument tray stainless steel with lid, overbed table, mobile-based exam lamp, as well as those for teaching, to include laptops, smart LED portable projectors, wall-mounted projectors and portable stereo speakers.
“There is no doubt the value that we should have on our nurses,” said Mr. Vincent Palacio. “We are building this particular program. In a few months, we won’t have a faculty of health sciences, we will have a College of Health Sciences where the nurses’ program will be much bigger. Again, thank you for the generous donation and we will make the most of it in our program.”
Additionally, with low retention and high turnover rates continuing to be a major cause of the shortages of nurses in the Caribbean region, Belize and the Ministry of Health and Wellness hope these pieces of equipment will enhance the University of Belize’s Nursing Program by building the capacity of the current nursing students and equip them with the necessary clinical skills and competencies to face the real-world challenges of the Belize health system.
“It is a privilege to stand here witnessing this very important donation and I want to thank our partners,” said Hon. Kevin Bernard, Minister of the MoHW in Belize. “The Ministry is constantly looking at how we can retain our nurses, but at the same time ensure they keep up to pace with the necessary skillset that are needed to ensure that we can continue to deliver quality service to our Belizean people and how best it is when we can have our very own University of Belize provide that necessary training and skillset.”
PAHO/WHO continues to collaborate with partners like the United States Government to support the preparedness and capacity of Belize’s health system.
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Press Release
22 November 2023
EU-UN-funded Spotlight Initiative in collaboration with CARICOM and partners hosts inaugural Caribbean Youth Summit
The Summit is being presented with the kind support of the Recipient United Nations Organisations of the European Union-funded United Nations Spotlight Initiative Caribbean Regional programme: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF); United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UNWOMEN), and Participating United Nations Organisation United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
The CYS will bring together various categories of young people and critical stakeholders from across the Caribbean region to share ideas, experiences, and good practices, to develop solutions to address gender-based violence and cross-cutting issues over four days in Kingston, Jamaica.
Your media house is invited to attend in person or join us virtually:
Event: Caribbean Youth Summit
Date: 22-25 November 2023
Time: 8:30 a.m. daily Jamaica time or 9:30 a.m. AST
Location: AC Hotel, 38-42 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 5, Jamaica
Virtually: Zoom -
https://unfpa.zoom.us/j/81293568176?pwd=Uk1tQ0lhaWUzc0RuLzl0SEJlV2pKZz09
https://bit.ly/UNFPACYS2023
Meeting ID: 812 9356 8176
Passcode: 06612365 Speakers on Day 1 include: Ambassador of the European Union to Jamaica - H.E. Marianne Van Steen; Minister of Education and Youth – Jamaica, Hon. Fayval Williams; Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Jamaica, Hon. Olivia Grange; Minister of Justice, Jamaica, Hon. Delroy Chuck, KC, Resident Coordinator a.i. and UNAIDS Country Director Jamaica, Belize, Suriname and the OECS, Richard N. Amenyah Representative and Director, UNFPA Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean, Elizabeth Talbert; Representative UN Women Multi-Country Office – Caribbean, Tonni Brodber; Assistant Secretary-General, Directorate of Human and Social Development, CARICOM Secretariat, Alison Drayton Contact: Michele Small-Bartley Deputy Programme Manager, Youth Development, Human and Social Development Directorate, CARICOM Secretariat Email: michele.smallbartley@caricom.org Tel: +592 684 9511 Lisa Legall Belgrave Regional Communications Officer – Spotlight Initiative Email: lisa.legall-belgrave@unwomen.org Tel: +246 836 6183 -end-
https://unfpa.zoom.us/j/81293568176?pwd=Uk1tQ0lhaWUzc0RuLzl0SEJlV2pKZz09
https://bit.ly/UNFPACYS2023
Meeting ID: 812 9356 8176
Passcode: 06612365 Speakers on Day 1 include: Ambassador of the European Union to Jamaica - H.E. Marianne Van Steen; Minister of Education and Youth – Jamaica, Hon. Fayval Williams; Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Jamaica, Hon. Olivia Grange; Minister of Justice, Jamaica, Hon. Delroy Chuck, KC, Resident Coordinator a.i. and UNAIDS Country Director Jamaica, Belize, Suriname and the OECS, Richard N. Amenyah Representative and Director, UNFPA Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean, Elizabeth Talbert; Representative UN Women Multi-Country Office – Caribbean, Tonni Brodber; Assistant Secretary-General, Directorate of Human and Social Development, CARICOM Secretariat, Alison Drayton Contact: Michele Small-Bartley Deputy Programme Manager, Youth Development, Human and Social Development Directorate, CARICOM Secretariat Email: michele.smallbartley@caricom.org Tel: +592 684 9511 Lisa Legall Belgrave Regional Communications Officer – Spotlight Initiative Email: lisa.legall-belgrave@unwomen.org Tel: +246 836 6183 -end-
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Press Release
03 November 2023
Twenty-third Global Meeting of Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans
Nairobi, Kenya, 31 October 2023 – The Twenty-third Global Meeting of the Regional Seas Conventions and Actions is taking place in Barbados between 20-23 November 2023 bringing together 18 Regional Seas Conventions in a global meeting held annually focusing on collaboration to increase the visibility and strategic involvement of RSCAPs in key processes at global and regional levels.
The Twenty-third Global Meeting of Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans will take place in Barbados from 20th to 23rd of November 2023 on the format of a 4-day meeting with a last day dedicated on an excursion. This meeting will be hosted by the Government of Barbados in collaboration with the Cartagena Convention Secretariat of UN Environment Programme.
Three interconnected crises ‒ climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution ‒ are putting global economic and social well-being at risk.
A rapidly deteriorating environment threatens not only our social and economic well-being but also the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. In the past 50 years the global human population has doubled, the extraction of materials has tripled, primary energy production has more than tripled, the economy has grown nearly fivefold and global trade has grown tenfold.
The accumulating pollution from chemicals and waste and the changing climate, biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, desertification, land degradation and drought are closely related and are reinforcing each other. They can individually or in combination lead to degradation of ecosystems and their ability to provide services that are crucial for the well-being of humans and nature. Global chemical production capacity almost doubled between 2000 and 2017.
The trajectory of global environmental change is out of line with international goals and objectives. The global community is failing to meet internationally agreed environmental goals. The Earth’s mean surface temperature has already warmed by about 1°C above pre-industrial levels. At the current rate of greenhouse gas emissions, warming is likely to reach 1.5°C in the early 2030s.
Addressing environmental degradation requires an integrated focus on climate, biodiversity, chemicals and waste, natural resources and pollution.
Since its creation in 1974, the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans (RSCAPs) Programme has evolved to consist of eighteen unique instruments for enhancing marine environmental cooperation tailored to regional specificities, that are strategically placed to respond to the urgent call for securing planetary health. The RSCAPs aim to strengthen the capacity within the region to protect and conserve the marine environment, through education, training, communication, and institution-building.
Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans (RSCAPs) are in a unique position to support States to achieve ocean-related elements of governance frameworks or guide on recent global environment-related policies – no-one else is in a position to provide coordination and cooperation at the regional scale. In particular, the UNEP Regional Seas Programme has governance mechanisms in place, regional convening power, extensive expert networks, and an established track record of environmental protection.
The Regional Seas Strategic Directions 2022-2025 will contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development goals, in particular Goal 14 to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources. More specifically, it will contribute to and strengthen the delivery of UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy (MTS) 2022-2025 and Programme of Work 2022-2023, particularly regarding activities that address ocean-related components of the identified priority areas of climate action, nature action, chemical and pollution action, science-policy, environmental governance, finance and economic transformations and digital transformations.
Recent several developments on global policy and governance frameworks tackle the environmental degradation, among which:
On 19 June 2023, the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (General Assembly resolution 72/249) adopted, the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (A/CONF.232/2023/4);
The BBNJ Treaty's objective is to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, for the present and in the long term, through effective implementation of the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea; it includes rules for managing ocean life, conducting environmental impact assessments, and establishing marine protected areas in the high seas.
For now, only five Regional Seas Conventions currently include Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) under their geographical coverages: OSPAR Convention, Noumea Convention, CCAMLR Convention, Barcelona Convention, and Lima Convention.
Nairobi and Abidjan Conventions have also recently started studying the issues related to biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
To cope with the issue of marine litter and microplastics, as we all know, a fraction of all the plastics produced and used are leaked into the world’ oceans as large plastic objects or microplastics, the UNEA Resolution (5/14) has requested the UNEP Executive Director to convene an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) in order to develop "an instrument," which will be based on a comprehensive approach, addressing the full life cycle of plastic, including its production, design and disposal. The global production of plastics having increased from 1.5 million tons in the 1950s against 300 million tons nowadays, with an average of 4% per year and will continue growing.
The aim of resolution (5/14) being to complete negotiations by the end of 2024 to create a global, legally binding plastics treaty.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted during COP 15 on 19 December 2022 (decision 15/4), aims to catalyze, enable and galvanize urgent and transformative action by Governments, and subnational and local authorities, with the involvement of all of society, to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The regional seas programmes play a crucial role in its implementation as the GBF is expected to have a major impact in countries around the world as they endeavor to meet their targets, through the development of new plans and regulations. For example, protected areas will be expanded and subsidies for ecologically destructive activities such as fishing will have to be redirected.
RSCAPs have already committed themselves to efforts that resonate with the GBF, but to date attention given to the GBF varies. Some RSCAPs have been proactive, whilst others have yet to consider the implications of the GBF.
Obligations to implement the GBF present an opportunity to strengthen regional partnerships, providing a bridge between national and global scales.
The Medium-Term Strategy articulates UNEP’s role in delivering the promises of the 2030 Agenda, with the implementation of the Sustainable development goals, ensuring that science remains at the center of decision-making processes, and that environmental rule of law continues to underpin global environmental governance. The strategy outlines how UNEP will strengthen the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda during the period 2022‒2025, supporting countries to deliver on their environmental commitments under international agreements.
The Regional Seas Strategic Directions aim in particular at providing an initial 3-year framework to track regional seas programmes achievements and the national and inter-regional levels, building a preliminary baseline towards a more robust and impact-oriented set of indicators, and providing comparative reporting to assist regional seas programmes reporting as a whole, but allowing for individual RSCAP achievements to be highlighted. Additionally, the RSSD intend to collect information to promote improved advocacy to raise the profile of the RSP within UNEP and UNEA, particularly as an implementing framework for ocean-related goals.
Global meetings of the Regional Seas have been held annually, concentrating on collaboration to increase the visibility and strategic involvement of RSCAPs in key processes at global and regional levels.
This year, from 20th to 23rd of November 2023, a twenty-third Global Meeting of Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans will take place in Barbados on the format of a 4-day meeting with a last day dedicated on an excursion. This meeting will be hosted by the Government of Barbados in collaboration with the Cartagena Convention Secretariat of UN Environment Programme.
This occasion will mark the opportunity to bring together the 18 Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans across the world and Representatives of the global MEAs, partners and UNEP staff, to deliberate among others, the common action to implement Regional Seas Strategic Directions 2022–2025, explore on Regional Seas contribution to ongoing negotiations on the plastics treaty and the upcoming United Nations Environmental Assembly UNEA (UNEA 6 strategic participation of Regional Seas Programme and the MEAs) ; not to forget Ocean Governance, highlighting among others, the new agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.
The Global Meeting of Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans also constitutes a platform to explore ways to advance blue economy and support small island developing states owing to their challenges and vulnerabilities.
This meeting will build on the outcomes of the 22nd global meeting held from 25 to 28 May 2022 in Mahe, Seychelles, whose objective was to launch the new Regional Seas Strategic Directions 2022-2025 and kickstart its implementation. The 23rd global meeting will now rather focus on its implementation and its outcomes in the different regions.
**
Further Resources
Twenty-Second Global Meeting of the Regional Seas Programme (unep.org) – held in Mahe, Seychelles, 25-28 May 2022
Notes to Editors
About Regional Seas Programme
Regional Seas Programme | UNEP - UN Environment Programme
About the UN Environment Programme
The UN Environment Programme is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact:
UNEP News Desk (Nairobi)
Tel: +254 717 080 753
unenvironment-newsdesk@un.org
www.unep.org
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Press Release
03 November 2023
Lawyers, Public Health Specialists and Economists meet to tackle NCDs in the Caribbean together
Two joint events, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Law with the Caribbean Public Health Law Forum (30-31 October) and the Caribbean Workshop on Health Taxes (1-3 November) were organised by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO-WHO). These collaborative meetings aim to serve as a pivotal platform uniting NCD focal points, public health practitioners, legal experts, economists, and policy advisors who are actively engaged in the development, implementation, and evaluation of legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as health taxation strategies. These events promise to be a critical juncture for sharing insights and fostering cooperation in the ongoing battle against NCDs in the Caribbean region.
During his opening remarks at the Meeting on NCDs and Law, Mr. Dean Chambliss, Director of the PAHO/WHO Caribbean Subregional Program, stated that: “Today, having passed the challenging years of the COVID pandemic, the moment is ripe for again coming together to advance more solidly on policy development in Law and NCDs. Through individual and institutional collaboration among those working in health and legal affairs, we can build on notable recent successes in the Caribbean, sharing best practices and legislative models that have proven successful.”
Honorable Mr Justice Winston Anderson, Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and Chair of the CCJ Academy for Law stated that there is a modest but important and growing body of substantive Caribbean law on NCDs and their risk factors. “An increasing number of Caribbean Constitutions provide that the State has the obligation to guarantee the right to life, health, and respect for the human person. This is most clearly stated in Haiti. But the Constitutions in other Caribbean jurisdictions, including Guyana and Jamaica, present a constitutional guarantee of a right to an environment, ‘that is not harmful to health or wellbeing’,” Justice Anderson pointed out.
The Caribbean workshop on health taxes will provide countries with the necessary technical tools, evidence, and knowledge to advance health taxation policy across the region. Delegates in the fields of health, law, academia and civil society will also subsequently collaborate to advance the Caribbean’s public health goals and the promotion of the human right to health, through capacity building and contribution to the development of policies and legislation to tackle NCDs in the Caribbean. This initiative will also provide countries with the necessary technical tools, evidence, and knowledge to advance health taxation policies across the region.
This event was conducted in collaboration with the Caribbean Public Health Law Forum. The Forum was launched in June 2021 as a joint initiative between PAHO-WHO and Caribbean Court of Justice Academy for Law (CAFL). The Forum promotes increased awareness on the role of law to prevent and control NCDs, disseminates best practices in health legislation in the Caribbean, and helps develop capacity within the region to leverage advocacy for public health.
***END***
CONTACT:
Lisa Bayley - bayleylis@paho.org
PAHO/WHO Office of the Subregional Program Coordination (Caribbean)
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) works with the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of its population. Founded in 1902, it is the world’s oldest international public health agency. It serves as the Regional Office of WHO for the Americas and is the specialized health agency of the Inter-American system.
The PAHO Subregional Program is responsible for providing subregional technical cooperation and to strengthen PAHO’s engagement with the Caribbean Subregional integration mechanisms, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and its various bodies and organs; and to build synergistic partnerships with the subregional institutions such as the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the University of the West Indies (UWI), among others. PAHO’s subregional technical cooperation specifically focuses on public health issues which would benefit from economies of scale and for which agreement on proposed collective responses and actions would produce a far greater impact rather than individual country responses. The Subregional Program also plays a role in coordinating among the different PAHO country offices.
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Press Release
03 November 2023
Lawyers, Public Health Specialists and Economists meet to tackle NCDs in the Caribbean together
Two joint events, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Law with the Caribbean Public Health Law Forum (30-31 October) and the Caribbean Workshop on Health Taxes (1-3 November) were organised by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO-WHO). These collaborative meetings aim to serve as a pivotal platform uniting NCD focal points, public health practitioners, legal experts, economists, and policy advisors who are actively engaged in the development, implementation, and evaluation of legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as health taxation strategies. These events promise to be a critical juncture for sharing insights and fostering cooperation in the ongoing battle against NCDs in the Caribbean region.
During his opening remarks at the Meeting on NCDs and Law, Mr. Dean Chambliss, Director of the PAHO/WHO Caribbean Subregional Program, stated that: “Today, having passed the challenging years of the COVID pandemic, the moment is ripe for again coming together to advance more solidly on policy development in Law and NCDs. Through individual and institutional collaboration among those working in health and legal affairs, we can build on notable recent successes in the Caribbean, sharing best practices and legislative models that have proven successful.”
Honorable Mr Justice Winston Anderson, Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and Chair of the CCJ Academy for Law stated that there is a modest but important and growing body of substantive Caribbean law on NCDs and their risk factors. “An increasing number of Caribbean Constitutions provide that the State has the obligation to guarantee the right to life, health, and respect for the human person. This is most clearly stated in Haiti. But the Constitutions in other Caribbean jurisdictions, including Guyana and Jamaica, present a constitutional guarantee of a right to an environment, ‘that is not harmful to health or wellbeing’,” Justice Anderson pointed out.
The Caribbean workshop on health taxes will provide countries with the necessary technical tools, evidence, and knowledge to advance health taxation policy across the region. Delegates in the fields of health, law, academia and civil society will also subsequently collaborate to advance the Caribbean’s public health goals and the promotion of the human right to health, through capacity building and contribution to the development of policies and legislation to tackle NCDs in the Caribbean. This initiative will also provide countries with the necessary technical tools, evidence, and knowledge to advance health taxation policies across the region.
This event was conducted in collaboration with the Caribbean Public Health Law Forum. The Forum was launched in June 2021 as a joint initiative between PAHO-WHO and Caribbean Court of Justice Academy for Law (CAFL). The Forum promotes increased awareness on the role of law to prevent and control NCDs, disseminates best practices in health legislation in the Caribbean, and helps develop capacity within the region to leverage advocacy for public health.
END
CONTACT:
Lisa Bayley - bayleylis@paho.org
PAHO/WHO Office of the Subregional Program Coordination (Caribbean)
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) works with the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of its population. Founded in 1902, it is the world’s oldest international public health agency. It serves as the Regional Office of WHO for the Americas and is the specialized health agency of the Inter-American system.
The PAHO Subregional Program is responsible for providing subregional technical cooperation and to strengthen PAHO’s engagement with the Caribbean Subregional integration mechanisms, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and its various bodies and organs; and to build synergistic partnerships with the subregional institutions such as the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the University of the West Indies (UWI), among others. PAHO’s subregional technical cooperation specifically focuses on public health issues which would benefit from economies of scale and for which agreement on proposed collective responses and actions would produce a far greater impact rather than individual country responses. The Subregional Program also plays a role in coordinating among the different PAHO country offices.
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