"We must work together to mobilize the political will and leadership to prevent and end the conflicts that trigger refugee flows. [...] Despite budget constraints everywhere, we must not turn away from those in need. Refugees leave because they have no choice. We must choose to help." Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Theme for 2012: Refugees have no choice. You do. THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S REFUGEES 2012 - "In Search of Solidarity" For years, many countries and regions have been … [Read more...]
UN Women calls for women’s central role in achieving sustainability
June 19, 2012 by
At a press conference on 18 June during The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Rio de Janeiro, Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women calls for women’s central role in achieving sustainability. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Former Prime Minister of Norway and Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Climate Change, joins the press conference. Venue: Main Press briefing room, Media Centre, Pavilion 3, Riocentro … [Read more...]
UNFPA is Taking Action in Shaanxi, China!
June 19, 2012 by
ONE-CHILD POLICY Shaanxi, China—Governmentofficials forced Feng Jianmei, who was 7 months pregnant with her second daughter, to undergo an abortion ten days ago. Five family planning officials abducted Ms. Feng on June 2nd while her husband, Deng Jiyuan, was away at work. When she could not pay the fine of 40,000 RMB ($6,270), they forcibly aborted her daughter. “Feng Jianmei’s story demonstrates how the One-Child Policy continues to sanction violence against women every day,” said … [Read more...]
Summer Solstice 2012 – celebrated June 20 th!
June 19, 2012 by
The summer solstice occurs exactly when the axial tilt of a planet's semi-axis in a given hemisphere is most inclined towards the star that it orbits. Earth's maximum axial tilt to our star, the Sun, during a solstice is 23° 26'. This happens twice each year, at which times the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky as seen from the North or South Pole respectively. The summer solstice is the solstice that occurs in a hemisphere's summer. In the Northern Hemisphere this is the … [Read more...]
THE FUTURE WOMEN WANT – Rio+20
June 18, 2012 by
THE FUTURE WOMEN WANT The paradigm shift towards sustainable development must be based on the premise of human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment. This shift requires a renewed focus on people-centred development that prioritizes the expansion of capabilities, the eradication of poverty and the reduction of all types of inequalities, and that promotes the rights and agency of women. It is a shift to a world where women and men, girls and boys—not profit—are placed at the … [Read more...]
JUNETEENTH – Celebrating on June 19
June 18, 2012 by
A Celebration of Women sends our Joy, our Love & Hope that True Equality & Freedom Lives! Celebrating the End of Slavery Juneteenth is the oldest known holiday Celebrating the End of Slavery. It started on June 19th 1865 when the union soldiers, led by General Granger came to Galveston Texas and announced that the war was over and the slaves were free. General Granger read the Emancipation Proclamation freeing about 250,000 slaves throughout … [Read more...]
PM to participate in G-20 Leaders – June 18-19 in Mexico
June 18, 2012 by
PM to participate in G-20 Leaders' Summit June 17, 2012 Ottawa, Ontario Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that he will participate in the G-20 Leaders’ Summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, on June 18-19, 2012. He will be accompanied by Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, and Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway. “Canada’s message at the G-20 will be that economic growth and fiscal discipline are not mutually exclusive, they go hand … [Read more...]
Uruguay, the first country to ratify ILO domestic work Convention
June 17, 2012 by
Uruguay becomes the first to ratify the ILO’s standard-setting Convention on Domestic Workers. The international treaty aims to improve the lives of domestic workers worldwide in the face of huge decent work deficits. GENEVA (ILO News) – Uruguay has become the first country to ratify a convention the ILO adopted one year ago which aims at bringing tens of millions of domestic workers under the realm of labour standards. The South American country presented its ratification of … [Read more...]
Father’s Day, the history
June 15, 2012 by
Father's Day is a celebration of fathers inaugurated in the early twentieth century to complement Mother's Day in celebrating fatherhood and male parenting. After the success obtained by Anna Jarvis with the promotion of Mother's Day in the US, some wanted to create a similar holidays for other family members, and Father's Day was the choice most likely to succeed. There were other persons in the US who independently thought of "Father's Day", but the credit for the modern holiday is always … [Read more...]
66th Presidency – United Nations General Assembly, celebrated in Qatar
June 14, 2012 by
A concert by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra quavered the UN General Assembly Hall recently. This cultural event celebrated the 66th presidency of the United Nations General Assembly and it honored the work of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. In this feature prepared by Florence “Beng” Poblete-Enriquez, you will hear a fusion of vocalizations and music from the concert. The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of … [Read more...]
Family Planning Summit could mark turning point for maternal health
June 12, 2012 by
Family Planning Summit Could Mark Turning Point for Maternal Health Executive Director talks about links between family planning and maternal health More than 200 million women, largely in the least developed countries, want to use modern family planning methods but can't access them. They may face cultural barriers or family resistance. Contraceptives may not be available in their communities or they may not have the money to buy them, or there is a lack of information or trained … [Read more...]
