17 October 2019: Ending extreme poverty is at the heart of the world’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build a sustainable future for all. But success in leaving no one behind will remain elusive if we do not target the people who are farthest behind first. Continue reading
Poor diets damaging children’s health worldwide, warns UNICEF
Poverty, urbanisation, climate change and poor eating choices driving unhealthy diets,
South Africa has the highest percentage of overweight children under 5 and adolescents 10-19 years in the Eastern and Southern Africa region.
Pretoria, 15 October 2019 – An alarmingly high number of children are suffering the consequences of poor diets and a food system that is failing them, UNICEF warned today in a new report on children, food and nutrition.
Rural women and girls across the world are a “powerful force” in global action to respond to climate change, according to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
In a message to mark the International Day of Rural Women, observed annually on 15 October, the UN chief said that “listening to rural women and amplifying their voices is central to spreading knowledge about climate change and urging governments, businesses and community leaders to act.” Continue reading
Rural women and girls building climate resilience
“Millions of rural women and girls around the world are building essential climate resilience at home, at work and in their communities. They play significant roles in agriculture, food security, nutrition, and the management of land and natural resources. In fact, globally, one in three employed women work in agriculture, with indigenous women in particular safeguarding land and knowledge. Continue reading
“Today, more than 1 billion girls younger than 18 are poised to take on the future. Every day, they are challenging stereotypes and breaking barriers. Girls are organizing and leading movements to tackle issues such as child marriage, education inequality, violence and the climate crisis. As the theme of this year’s observance underscores, they are proving to be unscripted and unstoppable. Continue reading
Friday, October 11, 2019 – There’s no doubting the unstoppable power of today’s young women and girls to stand up for their rights and the future they want. They are a fierce force to be reckoned with. I see the marches, hear their clear voices, and witness their impatient challenge to systems and societies that are too slow to take action on issues of both personal and global concern. From resisting violence against women, to climate action, to asserting the rights of a girl and a woman to determine what happens to her body, UN Women stands by them and works to amplify their power and their calls for change. Continue reading
On the International Day of the Girl (11 October), join UN Women to celebrate girls everywhere as they inspire, break boundaries and take charge of their own future. Continue reading
“Every 40 seconds, someone makes the tragic decision that life is no longer worth living.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29.
Mental health has been neglected for too long.
It concerns us all and greater action is urgent.
New York, 7 October 2019 – World Habitat Day highlights the central role our cities and communities play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Well-planned and smartly managed cities can steer us towards inclusive growth and low-emission development. Continue reading
Johannesburg, 1 October 2019 – UNIC Pretoria attended and exhibited at the Climate Diplomacy Week from 30 September – 4 October 2019 at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. The event consisted of a series of discussions and presentations on the green economy, climate issues and career opportunities. The event was hosted by South African Institute of Internal Affairs (SAIIA) in partnership with the European Union in South Africa. Continue reading