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Southern Africa pursues coordinated response to Avian Influenza outbreak
Photo © FAO/ SATYAJIT SARKAR
Countries urged to act quickly to exterminate the outbreak
3 August 2017, Johannesburg – The recent outbreaks of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly referred to as the bird flu, are threatening the livelihood and food security status of millions of families in the region. If not tackled quickly, the HPAI outbreak impedes trade opportunities and will reverse the gains made in enhancing food and nutrition security.
United Nations in South Africa celebrates Nelson Mandela International Day with students from the Adelaide Tambo School and YMCA Centre in Soweto, Johannesburg
UN staff assist YMCA students with reading activities during Mandela Day celebrations in Soweto, south of Johannesburg
Pretoria, 19 July 2017- The UN in South Africa in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation celebrated Nelson Mandela International Day by brightening the smiles of the physically challenged and less fortunate students of the Adelaide Tambo School and the YMCA in Soweto, south of Johannesburg.
The Secretary-General’s message on Nelson Mandela International Day
Nelson Mandela continues to inspire the world through his example of courage and compassion, and his commitment to social justice and a culture of freedom and peace.
I had the honour of meeting Nelson Mandela several times, including during South Africa’s transition. Each time, I was struck by his wisdom, his compassion, and above all, his humility.
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka Appointed for a Second Term
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, following consultations with Member States and the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), announced today the appointment of Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka of South Africa as Executive Director of UN-Women for a further term of four years.
South African students participate in #SaveOurOcean competition
Pretoria, South Africa, 23 June 2017 – More than 30 senior primary school students from Pretoria, South Africa, participated in the #SaveOurOcean competition organized this month by the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in partnership with Greenpeace Africa, an advocacy group, in an effort to raise awareness about the current situation facing the world’s oceans.
UNFPA at the Higher Education and Training HIV/AIDS Programme (HEAIDS) 2017 conference
There was excitement in the air as the first ever to be held Higher Education and Training HIV/AIDS Programme (HEAIDS) conference took place in Durban on 9- 11 June 2017. HEAIDS was formed to develop and support the HIV mitigation programmes at South Africa’s public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), and progressively Technical & Vocational Education and Training Colleges (TVETs). Before the official start of the conference, HEAIDS Country Director & Head, Dr Ramneek Ahluwalia asked HEAIDS Committee member and UNFPA Representative, Dr Esther Muia, to speak about the late UNFPA Executive Director, Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, before a moment of silence was observed in his honour.
Satellite Session on Gender Based Violence and implications for HIV for young people at Youth Conference, 9-11 June organized by the Higher Education and Training HIV/AIDS Programme (HEAIDS) 2017
On 9th June 2017 the United National Populations Fund (UNFPA) in partnership with the UNWomen in South Africa, hosted a very lively and interactive satellite session “Gender- Based Violence (GBV) as a structural driver of HIV infection at Institutions of Higher Learning” where over 4000 young people gathered in Durban.
Satellite Session on South Africa: Harnessing the Demographic Dividend at Youth Conference, 9-11 June organized by the Higher Education and Training HIV/AIDS Programme (HEAIDS) 2017
The United National Population Fund (UNFPA) in South Africa, hosted an engaging satellite session “South Africa: Harnessing the Demographic Dividend” during the Youth Conference on 10 June 2017 in Durban. The satellite session provided an opportunity for policy makers, civil society, youth and other stakeholders to consider the practical ways of optimising on the youth bulge and the necessary investments needed to reap the demographic dividend, including through access to health care, quality education, employment opportunities and business opportunities for young people. The session was moderated by UNFPA Youth Advisory Panel Members, Zanele Mabaso and Bhongo Sonti, who guided the discussions very well.
MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONFLICT
Today we pay tribute to the women, girls, men and boys who have suffered the atrocity of sexual violence in conflict, and we reaffirm our global commitment to eliminate this scourge.
Rape and sexual violence in conflict are tactics of terrorism and war, used strategically to humiliate, degrade and destroy, and often to pursue a campaign of ethnic cleansing. They should never be downplayed as war’s inevitable by-product. Sexual violence is a threat to every individual’s right to a life of dignity, and to humanity’s collective peace and security.
100-day countdown to International Day of Peace
