19 February 2019 — “Significant progress” is being made in implementing the peace deal reached in Stockholm last December between Government and Houthi leaders in Yemen, according to United Nations Special Envoy Martin Griffiths.
18 February 2019 — Hailing the recent peace agreement signed by 15 warring parties in the Central African Republic (CAR), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) stressed on Monday that “now is the time for action” and outlined concrete steps that armed groups, judicial authorities and the Government can take so the future of millions of children can be safeguarded.
18 February 2019 — From smartphones to wedding rings, the hidden cost of everyday gold is its threat to human and environmental health, according to a new United Nations-driven initiative launched on Monday that aims to tackle mercury-based mining methods.
15 February 2019 — A surge in sexual violence in South Sudan’s Unity state targeting victims as young as eight years old, has prompted a call from the UN human rights office, OHCHR, for urgent Government measures to protect victims, and bring perpetrators to justice.
16 February 2019 — Members of the United Nations Security Council are on a mission to West Africa where they are reviewing strides made in peacebuilding by both Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau.
Social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. The ILO estimates that currently about 2 billion people live in fragile and conflict-affected situations, of whom more than 400 million are aged 15 to 29. Job creation, better quality jobs, and better access to jobs for the bottom 40 per cent have the potential to increase incomes and contribute to more cohesive and equitable societies and thus are important to prevent violent conflicts and to address post-conflict challenges. This year's theme is "If You Want Peace & Development, Work for Social Justice."
Languages, with their complex implications for identity, communication, social integration, education and development, are of strategic importance for people and planet. Linguistic diversity is increasingly threatened as more and more languages disappear. Globally 40 per cent of the population does not have access to an education in a language they speak or understand. Nevertheless, progress is being made in mother tongue-based multilingual education with growing understanding of its importance, particularly in early schooling, and more commitment to its development in public life.
The global economy may have started to recover but youth employment has only worsened in recent years, leaving an estimated 71 million young people unemployed, and millions of others in precarious or informal work. Even with jobs, some 156 million young people in low- and middle-income countries continue to live in poverty. Young women, migrants, LGBTI youth and those with disabilities are particularly vulnerable. The UN’s World Youth Report, launching 20 February, focuses on youth education and employment and explores the complex challenges facing the largest generation of youth the world has ever seen.
Anousheh Ansari has earned a place in history as the first female tourist to visit space and the first astronaut of Iranian descent. She is also the first Muslim woman to exit Earth’s atmosphere. As a successful serial entrepreneur and active proponent of world-changing technologies, Ansari, along with her family, sponsored the Ansari XPRIZE, a $10 million cash prize that ignited a new era in private space industries. She is now the CEO of XPRIZE and is a mentor for women around the world who want to expand their horizons and aim for the stars. Watch a video where she discusses breaking gender barriers in space, and be sure to register for the AI for Good Global Summit to see her speak at ITU in Geneva in May 2019.
What happens when you are sick, disabled, pregnant or old and lack sufficient income or any income at all because you cannot work? How can we protect individuals and their families against these risks and shield them from poverty throughout their lives? Social protection is a human right. It ensures access to health care and income security for all. It provides for you and your family when you’re sick, unemployed, injured, pregnant or too old to work. It provides support for your family in case something happens to you. Social protection gives you peace of mind and hope for a better future. Find out more in the 5th chapter of this interactive series celebrating the Centenial of the International Labour Organization.
Find out more about the Sustainable Development Goals
