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23 July 2024
UN leaders urge ‘maximum political will’ to rescue SDGs
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21 July 2024
UN forum on sustainable development concludes with renewed commitment, call for urgent action
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16 July 2024
UNSG António Guterres Video Message on Nelson Mandela International Day, observed on 18 July 2024
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The Sustainable Development Goals in Bahrain
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. With 21 United Nations Entities represented in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the work of the United Nations encompasses all 17 SDGs.
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06 June 2024
WHO Bahrain Country Office on the forefront of the fight against Tobacco
In the lead-up to World No Tobacco Day (May 31st), WHO Bahrain organized a workshop on May 18th to raise awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco use, including for youth.
The event was held at the Royal Humanitarian Foundation and attended by a diverse youth audience.
Participants were provided with essential information and tools to combat tobacco use. Promotional material dedicated to fighting tobacco, including a video, was unveiled. The workshop also included a video production and editing session in preparation for a regional video contest held on World No Tobacco Day 2024.
On May 26th, the WHO Bahrain Country Office held a lecture on World No Tobacco Day for Ministry employees and healthcare professionals. The lecture focused on this year's theme, which urges youth to act against predatory tobacco marketing tactics and provided crucial information to combat tobacco use.
On May 30th, 2024, the WHO Country Office in Bahrain attended the World No Tobacco Day 2024 event at the Ministry of Interior.
The event was organized to enhance community awareness and participation in health issues.
Several internal and external bodies, including Dr Tasnim Atatrah, WHO Representative in Bahrain, were honoured during the event. Additionally, the winner of the smoking cessation competition organized by the World Health Organization and the Ministry's employees who participated in the tobacco cessation initiative were also recognized.
"We have undoubtedly achieved so much progress on tobacco control, but we still have a long journey ahead. Tobacco and related industries will continue to fight to ensure the dangers of their products are concealed. Still, we must be on our guard against its tactics to protect our current and future generations," said Dr Atatrah.
The event was held at the Royal Humanitarian Foundation and attended by a diverse youth audience.
Participants were provided with essential information and tools to combat tobacco use. Promotional material dedicated to fighting tobacco, including a video, was unveiled. The workshop also included a video production and editing session in preparation for a regional video contest held on World No Tobacco Day 2024.
On May 26th, the WHO Bahrain Country Office held a lecture on World No Tobacco Day for Ministry employees and healthcare professionals. The lecture focused on this year's theme, which urges youth to act against predatory tobacco marketing tactics and provided crucial information to combat tobacco use.
On May 30th, 2024, the WHO Country Office in Bahrain attended the World No Tobacco Day 2024 event at the Ministry of Interior.
The event was organized to enhance community awareness and participation in health issues.
Several internal and external bodies, including Dr Tasnim Atatrah, WHO Representative in Bahrain, were honoured during the event. Additionally, the winner of the smoking cessation competition organized by the World Health Organization and the Ministry's employees who participated in the tobacco cessation initiative were also recognized.
"We have undoubtedly achieved so much progress on tobacco control, but we still have a long journey ahead. Tobacco and related industries will continue to fight to ensure the dangers of their products are concealed. Still, we must be on our guard against its tactics to protect our current and future generations," said Dr Atatrah.
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22 April 2024
New technologies and SDGs discussed at a student debate at Ahlia University
The United Nations Information Centre for the Gulf Countries (UNIC Manama) participated on 18 April in a student debate organized by Ahlia University in Bahrain on the implications of robotics for achieving the SDGs.
Speaking at the debate, UNIC Manama Director Ahmed Ben Lassoued highlighted the importance of new technologies for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
"However, new technologies, including AI, must be safe, under human control, and governed fairly, inclusively, and transparently," Ben Lassoued said, stressing the importance of the upcoming Summit of the Future, to be held in New York in September this year.
"One key point to be discussed at the Summit is how to leverage better science, technology, innovation, and digital information for sustainable development," he said.
Youth voices matter
"As the custodians of the planet, young people will have to live with the consequences of today's actions - or inaction," Ben Lassoued told the participants.
"The United Nations stands with you in your effort to make your voice heard and count," he said, calling the participants to engage with the United Nations in the lead-up to the Summit.
Speaking at the debate, UNIC Manama Director Ahmed Ben Lassoued highlighted the importance of new technologies for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
"However, new technologies, including AI, must be safe, under human control, and governed fairly, inclusively, and transparently," Ben Lassoued said, stressing the importance of the upcoming Summit of the Future, to be held in New York in September this year.
"One key point to be discussed at the Summit is how to leverage better science, technology, innovation, and digital information for sustainable development," he said.
Youth voices matter
"As the custodians of the planet, young people will have to live with the consequences of today's actions - or inaction," Ben Lassoued told the participants.
"The United Nations stands with you in your effort to make your voice heard and count," he said, calling the participants to engage with the United Nations in the lead-up to the Summit.
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23 July 2024
UN leaders urge ‘maximum political will’ to rescue SDGs
Addressing the preparatory committee (PrepComm) for the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed highlighted the persistent challenges developing nations face and the imperative for ambitious global financial reforms.The Conference, which will be held in Spain next year, provides a unique opportunity to tackle these challenges head on, Mr. Guterres told the PrepComm participants gathered in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, in a video message.“It opens the door for world leaders to adopt ambitious reforms to deliver affordable long-term financing at scale – and deliver the SDG Stimulus.”It is also an opportunity to reform an international financial system that is “outdated, dysfunctional and unfair,” he said, urging “maximum political will” to act and to rescue the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.“Together, we can deliver not only a financial system – but a world – that is more just, equitable and sustainable,” he concluded. Bleak outlookSpeaking from the podium, the Deputy Secretary-General echoed Mr. Guterres’ message, recalling the significance of convening in Addis Ababa, a city synonymous with financing for development, where the landmark Action Agenda was adopted in 2015.Ms. Mohamed highlighted the disheartening reality that only 17 per cent of SDGs targets are on track, pointing to severe financial constraints facing developing countries.“Many developing countries cannot invest in their future as they struggle to meet their immediate needs: paying salaries and meeting debt service,” she said, adding that international capital is “flowing out of developing economies, rather than in”.“The economic outlook for developing countries remains bleak. And while the global economy has been described as resilient – there is a soft landing in the North – but there is a crash landing in the South.” Overcome divisionsMs. Mohammed highlighted that the need for reform was evident in 2015, and the shocks since 2020 underline the urgency of delivering on commitments and for creating an international financial architecture that can overcome global financial divisions.“If we are to rescue the SDGs, we need much greater urgency, and much higher ambition,” she stressed, outlining six key areas for action.These include tackling the debt and development crisis; enhancing access to long-term, affordable financing; closing gaps in the global financial safety net; establishing a fair and effective international tax system; harnessing international capital markets; and responding to calls for global economic governance reform.“We stand at a crossroads yet again. We have a unique opportunity to forge a more effective and equitable global financial system and to unlock financing at scale for those that need it most,” she emphasized.“We cannot afford to miss it.”Global kick-offThe preparatory committee (PrepComm) kicks off the process culminating with the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Spain in June-July 2025.Among other tasks, the PrepComm will undertake detailed planning and preparation, initiate negotiations on the Conference’s outcome and engage with key stakeholders.Further PrepComm sessions are scheduled to be held in New York (December) and Mexico City (February 2025), alongside an intersessional multi-stakeholder hearing in New York (October).
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21 July 2024
UN forum on sustainable development concludes with renewed commitment, call for urgent action
Held under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Forum took place from 8 to 17 July. This year’s theme was Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions.The session included a three-day ministerial segment from 15 to 17 July as part of the High-Level Segment of the Council.Key votes on ministerial declarationThe adoption of a ministerial declaration, a key outcome of the Forum, was marked by robust debate among Member States, culminating in two key votes on amendments.One proposal involved the inclusion of a paragraph “strongly urging” States to refrain from promulgating and applying any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the UN Charter that impede the full achievement of economic and social development, in particular in developing countries.The inclusion – proposed among others by Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Russia and Syria – was agreed with a recorded vote of 105 nations in favour, 11 against and 46 abstentions.The other amendment, proposed by Israel called for the deletion of a paragraph that “recognized” that sustainable development cannot be realized without peace and security, and peace and security will be at risk without sustainable development. That paragraph also called for “further effective measures and actions” to be taken, in conformity with international law, to remove the obstacles to the full realization of the right to self-determination of peoples living under colonial and foreign occupation, which continue to adversely affect their economic and social development as well as the environment.In a recorded vote, the Forum decided to retain this paragraph, with 122 Member States voting for retention and two voting for deletion (Israel and United States). Thirty-nine States abstained.The ministerial declaration, as amended, was then adopted without a vote.Commitment renewedAddressing the Forum after the adoption, Paula Narváez, ECOSOC President, highlighted that the ministerial declaration “reinforced once again” the urgency of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.“This high-level political forum has highlighted that it is not too late to make sustainable development a reality.”She also recognized the efforts of Ambassador José Blanco of the Dominican Republic and Ambassador Merete Fjeld Brattested of Norway for their leadership as facilitators of “complex negotiations, which were conducted in an exceptional, transparent and inclusive manner”.Complex, inclusive negotiationsShe added that delegations negotiated for over 70 hours, with 20 informal and 3 informal-informal sessions, “making every effort to bring together the different opposing positions and present an ambitious and balanced document”. The ECOSOC President concluded by stressing the body’s collective resolve to accelerate the implementation of SDGs and advance sustainable development, and to undertake the transformations necessary to achieve that objective.“We will continue to renew multilateral efforts to fulfil the promise of the 2030 Agenda and leave no one behind,” she said.
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16 July 2024
Global call to equip youth with skills for a peaceful and sustainable future
In a message for Monday’s World Youth Skills Day, António Guterres pointed out that the world’s young people are already working to build safer and stronger communities, even though almost a quarter are not in education, employment or training. “They can make an even bigger difference for our shared future with training for the burgeoning green and digital economies, education to help break the cycle of hate speech and misinformation, tools to enhance mediation and dialogue, and so much more,” he declared.The UN chief also highlighted the link between countries spending on education, school completion rates and levels of peace enjoyed by their people.“Today, and every day, let us work to transform education. And let us ensure that youth have what they need to build skills for shaping a more peaceful, sustainable future for all.”The International DayThe UN General Assembly in 2014 declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day, to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. Since then, World Youth Skills Day events have provided a platform for dialogue between young people, technical and vocational education and training institutions, firms, employers’ and workers’ organizations, policy makers and development partners.2024 commemorationIn commemorations this year, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Labour Organization (ILO) and the UN Youth Office in collaboration with the Permanent Missions of Portugal and Sri Lanka will convene a panel discussion featuring young experts, partners and government representatives.The event will review practices and interventions to advance skills development, highlight youth’s contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), helping address violence and harassment, and foster social and emotional learning into education and training systems.
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16 July 2024
UN deputy chief calls for major arms spending cuts and urgent action to save SDGs
Speaking on behalf of Secretary-General António Guterres, Amina Mohammed called for immediate and decisive action to salvage the faltering Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).“Conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, and beyond are causing a devastating loss of life and diverting political attention and scarce resources from the urgent work of ending poverty and averting climate catastrophe,” she said at the ministerial meeting of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on sustainable development.She emphasized the need to slash military budgets and instead channel funds towards peace and development.Critical stage of SDGsHighlighting the critical state of the SDGs, Ms. Mohammed noted that only 17 percent of the targets are on track as the 2030 deadline approaches.“Future generations deserve more than 17 percent of a sustainable future,” she emphasized, outlining a four-pronged strategy for urgent acceleration in a bid to meet the 2030 deadline for the Goals.The first step, she stressed, is to establish peace, underscoring that political and financial resources should be redirected from conflicts to development efforts.She also emphasized the importance of advancing green and digital transition, urging nations to enhance their climate action plans by 2025, aligning them with the 1.5-degree Celsius limit in line wit the Paris Agreement and invest in expanding digital connectivity.Invest in peaceAddressing the financial challenges impeding SDG progress, Ms. Mohammed pointed out the growing financing gap and destabilizing financial conditions in many developing countries. She acknowledged ongoing reform of multilateral development banks and the recycling of special drawing rights but called for more robust measures. “We must go further and faster to deliver an SDG Stimulus,” she urged, calling for increased lending capacity, expanded access to contingency financing, and comprehensive debt solutions.Keep the promiseIn conclusion, Ms. Mohammed reiterated the SDGs’ promise to “leave no one behind”.She emphasized the need to prioritize vulnerable populations, uphold the rights of persons with disabilities and combat gender inequality. “Achieving this agenda means placing vulnerable people and groups at the forefront of national development plans, policies and budgets,” she said.Nations must actGeneral Assembly President Dennis Francis echoed this urgency, highlighting the plight of 1.1 billion people living in multidimensional poverty.“Today, 1.1 billion people are living in multidimensional poverty. If we do nothing impactful, eight per cent of the global population – or 680 million people – will still languish in hunger by 2030," he warned, urging immediate and comprehensive action.He underscored the need to address the root causes of poverty and hunger, emphasizing their interconnectedness with conflict, climate change, and economic shocks. Be creative and boldMr. Francis also highlighted the importance of last year’s SDG Summit, which adopted a strong political declaration and launched a new phase of accelerated action to realize the global development goals by 2030.Looking forward, he expressed optimism for the upcoming Summit of the Future, anticipated to be a transformative event that would reinforce political will and address the global financial system's inequities.“The Summit’s anticipated outcome – a Pact for the Future – must be transformative enough to justly telegraph the political will that will usher in a brighter tomorrow for all, everywhere,” he said, urging Member States to be creative, inclusive and bold, ensuring the Pact is genuinely transformational and restores public confidence.Helping realize the GoalsPaula Narváez, President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), underscored the body’s critical role in steering the implementation of the SDGs.“Throughout the cycle of the Economic and Social Council, I have prioritized promoting the transformative policies that the Council’s various subsidiary bodies can offer to implement the SDGs.”She emphasized the importance of tailoring these policies to meet the diverse needs of people and the planet while considering each country’s concerns.In that context, she highlighted the key Voluntary National Reviews conducted at the HLPF, with 36 countries presenting this year. These reviews provide valuable insights into national experiences, lessons learned, and obstacles encountered in implementing the SDGs.“We were able to explore in greater depth the reasons for the delay in implementation, but we were also able to hear from governments themselves and interested parties about the good practices that we can reproduce,” Ms. Narváez noted.Commitment to dialogueThe ECOSOC President called for a renewed commitment to multilateralism and constructive dialogue.“We must all commit to being fully involved in building a constructive dialogue and raising the bar with a great vision from all stakeholders,” she urged, emphasizing the need for collective effort to achieve the necessary transformations.Concluding her remarks, Ms. Narváez expressed hope that the actions taken today would inspire future generations.“We hope that the boys and girls that are watching us today can see in the future an opportunity to fulfil their potential as we are showing here today,” she said, reinforcing the long-term vision of the SDGs.Ministerial segmentDuring its three-day ministerial segment, the HLPF will hold a general debate on the theme From the SDG Summit to the Summit of the Future.Ministers and high-level representatives of participating States, as well as intergovernmental organizations, and major groups and other stakeholders will take action to realise the Political Declaration of the 2023 SDG Summit and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs.They will also contribute to the preparations of the Summit of the Future, to be held this September.Held under the auspices of the ECOSOC, the Forum will conclude on 18 July with the adoption of a ministerial declaration.
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15 July 2024
Sustainable development: ‘Be leaders and inspire’ UN deputy chief urges, as 2030 deadline nears
The Special Event entitled Keeping the SDG Promise: Pathways for Acceleration is taking place on the sidelines of the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) now underway, aimed at getting the SDGs back on track and leaving no country behind.It will give a boost to the so-called “High Impact Initiatives” championed by the whole UN development system and key investment strategies, while also highlighting countries.Speaking exclusively to UN News’s Mayra Lopes, the UN deputy chief emphasized six key transition areas for accelerating the SDGs which are essential to success: food systems, energy access and affordability; digital connectivity, education, jobs and social protection; and climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.The interview has been edited for clarity and length.UN News: The global community is meeting this week at the High-Level Political Forum. We still have six years left until the 2030 deadline for the SDGs. What is your message to leaders?Amina Mohammed: Be leaders. Be leaders for people and what they need and the promises that are made in the SDG agenda. Be leaders for the planet and the things that we need to have put in place for a 1.5-degree world.Be leaders and inspire, that are accountable to the UN Charter. And come away from the UN knowing that this is the place where you will hear those voices and their expectations and aspirations. And that should give you the energy and the inspiration to go back and do the right thing.UN News: The United Nations system unites around these six key transitions or pathways to acceleration. Can you tell us more about these areas and why it is so important to leave no one behind?Amina Mohammed: We had very clear marching orders from Member States when they really did get the wake-up call of how badly off-track we were with the SDGs last year. 15 per cent, 17 per cent in some places. Not a pass mark. And for that, we had to think if this is an acceleration to 2030, what is it that would get resources in to get behind investments that would deliver on the SDGs? All 17 of them. And you're not going to go out there talking about 17 ideas.These are signposts for getting us to where we need to get to. So, we sort of clarified what those investments could be. Where business would come, the public sector is already there, where we could scale up, where the UN could reposition itself to help accompany countries to that. And so, those transitions made sense because we were talking about food systems.Why were we talking about food systems? We had felt the impact of COVID and what that did to disrupt the world. We felt the impact of Ukraine on the food systems directly. We, of course, responded with the Black Sea Grain Initiative and that saved many lives.But I think it was apparent that we could do more. And dependency on others was not always the best way to go. That is also a system that takes away from us getting to a 1.5-degree world.The second was the transitions on energy. How do we make sure that energy gets to everyone? Access - whether it was for cooking or to small-scale industries such as education and health – and to really look at it off-grid. Not everything has to be on the grid. We can find mini-grids that power up whole communities - and especially if we were trying to link that to food systems as well.The third was connectivity. Of course, the new technologies are here now. How do we connect people? And in this particular instance, for what? Well, for financial services for women for one. We want to make sure that you can join the world without leaving your village, on e-commerce. That needs to be powered, to be connected.And then we also thought that, well, education is not in a good place. So, that was a fourth transition. It's not the transformation of education we want to achieve overnight. That's the end game of what you want to put into it. But what is the first thing that perhaps needs attention? Young people are out of work. They've not had the education they ought to.You want to connect them to markets. And to do that, if you're transforming food systems skills, how could you do that with technology and do it better and make it more equitable? Close the divides that there are today. Create jobs that people feel they are losing or have lost. And then, to put this in context, I think of two important things: the resilience of people that needs to be supported by, I would say, a social protection floor that takes from the country's GDP. Then, you've got some resilience, and you can ensure that when you have these big knocks like COVID-19, that people are not knocked off track.Last but not least, the enabling environment will become more difficult if we don't take cognizance of what we would call the triple crisis: climate, biodiversity, and pollution.UN News: I want to refer to the digital innovation part. I wanted to hear if you feel hopeful and how you think we can leverage this new technology?Amina Mohammed: There was a gentleman who I met recently in Barbados. And he was the one who designed the search engine, the very first one we had called Archie. I said to him, so you tell me, what do you think about this new era of technology that you're obviously very familiar with? And he said, “It's very exciting, it's very scary, and we're not ready”. And I thought, well, that probably captured the reality.The Secretary-General has put in place his offer to the Summit of the Future of how to put the guardrails around the potentials. There is a dark side to it, but there are so many opportunities, and I think that structure will help us to be safer.It will help us to go further in a world that's connected and we must do things about governance, about the way in which technology is used, whether it's algorithms that are designed, have a bias against women.But I think what is more important is when I said to him: “Is this like going from the horse and cart to the combustion engine when we industrialized?”. And he said, “No, it's much more than that - because you're talking about changing societies and the way we do things”. We will never be the same again because we will be so much more connected.UN News: We are talking a lot about the SDG acceleration, but we have a very challenging landscape right now with wars and global tensions. How do you think we can still push for SDG acceleration in this scenario?Amina Mohammed: Well, back to your first question. We need leadership. We need leadership at all levels. That's not just the president of a country, but in all constituencies, business, civil society, young people.That will be a key part of what should make us hopeful. Rebirthing the United Nations [as] a stronger town hall for a global village, so that voices here are not only heard but acted upon.We don't all have the same muscle on that floor, but we do have a voice, and we can take that out and we must remember every day that the representation of our people is so diverse, and the needs are so complex.Perhaps more important to me is how we find the resources for the development agenda, for peace, for security. But not security in the way in which we pay for war; but security in which we invest in the prevention - which is development.We find ourselves in a system which was designed for a 1945 recovery from World War Two. "May we never know the scourge of war again". But we have. And the same principles we applied then, which was to say people have to have access to resources to rebuild their lives, are exactly the same principles we need to have today to say you need to have long term financing for your development, wherever you are in the world.My hope is that acceleration happens because we all understand there's an existential threat with a 1.5-degree world hanging in the balance, that people will no longer sit on the sidelines.And how they react depends on how much injustice they think they're being meted out by their local leadership, national leadership, and international leadership. So, this is a globe very much connected. Young people are full of energy. They are anxious because they don't see a future.If I go back to the creation of many terrorists, they're not born. It's an environment that excludes, an environment of injustice, an environment of no hope.And therefore, a young person finds themselves easy fodder for those who would like to disrupt, in a way that is unfortunate.So, I have hope that we have never been more equipped in a world with resources to do the right thing. We have an amazing framework and path to this through the SDGs. And I think that we should just get up and race this last mile and then deliver the promise of the SDGs.
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Press Release
29 May 2024
UNSG António Guterres Message for World Environment Day 2024 (observed on June 5)
The theme of this year’s World Environment Day is “land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience.”Humanity depends on land. Yet, all over the world, a toxic cocktail of pollution, climate chaos, and biodiversity decimation are turning healthy lands into deserts, and thriving ecosystems into dead zones. They are annihilating forests and grasslands, and sapping the strength of land to support ecosystems, agriculture, and communities.That means crops failing, water sources vanishing, economies weakened, and communities endangered – with the poorest hit hardest. Sustainable development is suffering. And we are trapped in a deadly cycle – land use is responsible for eleven percent of the carbon dioxide emissions heating our planet. It’s time to break free.Countries must deliver on all their commitments to restore degraded ecosystems and land, and on the entire Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. They must use their new national climate action plans to set out how they will halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. And we must drastically scale-up finance to support developing countries to adapt to violent weather, protect nature, and support sustainable development.Inaction is too costly. But swift and effective action makes economic sense. Every dollar invested in ecosystem restoration creates up to thirty dollars in economic benefits.We are Generation Restoration. Together, let’s build a sustainable future for land, and for humanity.***
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Press Release
14 April 2024
Statement by Mr. Khaled El Mekwad, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bahrain, on the Royal Decree granting Amnesty to 1584 Prisoners
The amnesty is an important step towards strengthening Bahraini society's cohesion and solidarity, while upholding the public interest, the protection of human rights, and the rule of law. I also praise the directive issued by His Royal Highness, the Prime minister, to provide training programs and job opportunities for those covered by the royal amnesty, which will facilitate their reintegration into society and their contribution to national development. I look forward to the continuation of the constructive dialogue on human rights between the Government of Bahrain and the United Nations as part of their cooperation to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and ensure that no one is left behind.
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Press Release
02 April 2024
UNSG António Guterres Message for World Autism Awareness Day, observed on April 2, 2024
World Autism Awareness Day is a moment to recognize and celebrate the important contributions of autistic people in every country and community. But around the world, they continue to confront barriers to their fundamental rights to education, employment and social inclusion — as called for by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As a matter of fundamental rights, governments must invest in stronger community support systems, inclusive education and training programmes, and accessible and technology-based solutions to enable persons with autism to enjoy the same rights as others. Scaling-up support and investment in countries and communities requires working hand-in-hand with persons with autism and their allies. Today and every day, let’s unite to realize their rights, and ensure an inclusive and accessible world for all. ***
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Press Release
23 March 2024
UNSG message for World Meteorological Day, 23 March 2024
Our climate is collapsing. The signs have never been clearer. The latest State of the Global Climate report showed climate records being shattered across the board. 2023 saw record heat, record sea levels, record ocean surface temperatures, and Antarctic sea ice at record lows. Fires, floods and droughts around the world are the result. Abnormal is the new normal. And the human impact is clear: lives taken, livelihoods lost, economies upended. Climate chaos threatens every region, country and community on earth. So, all of us must unite at the frontlines of climate action – the theme of this year’s World Meteorological Day – and fight for a better future. Together we must build a future where we have better adapted to the realities of our changing climate, limiting damage when extreme weather strikes, including by protecting every person on earth with an early-warning system by 2027. We must build a future where developing countries have received climate justice, recognizing that they have done the least to cause the crisis. And we must build a future where we have ended our addiction to fossil fuels and limited the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius, avoiding the very worst of climate chaos.Governments are critical. The G20 – the biggest emitters – must lead a global move from fossil fuels to renewables. And developed countries must deliver finance for climate action in developing countries. We need greater action from business and finance – to slash their emissions in line with the 1.5 degree limit, and to stop financing fossil fuel development. And we need citizens around the world to pile pressure on governments and businesses to act. Meteorologists around the world are also key. I thank them for all their work to advance climate action. And I welcome the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch initiative which will improve our tracking of emissions. This is the fight of our lives. Let’s unite at the frontline of climate action and build a better future, together.
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Press Release
22 March 2024
UNSG message for The World Water Day, 22 March 2024
Action for water is action for peace. And today it is needed more than ever. Our world is in turbulent waters. Conflicts are raging, inequality is rife, pollution and biodiversity loss are rampant, and, as humanity continues to burn fossil fuels, the climate crisis is accelerating with a deadly force – further threatening peace. Our planet is heating up – seas are rising, rains patterns are changing, and river flows are shrinking. That is resulting in droughts in some regions, and floods and coastal erosion in others. Meanwhile, pollution and overconsumption are imperiling the availability of fresh, clean, accessible water on which all life depends. Dwindling supplies can increase competition and inflame tensions between people, communities, and countries. That is increasing the risk of conflict. Water for peace is the theme of this year’s World Water Day. Achieving it relies on far greater cooperation. Today, 153 countries share water resources. Yet only twenty-four have reported cooperation agreements for all their shared water. We must accelerate efforts to work together across borders, and I urge all countries to join and implement the United Nations Water Convention – which promotes managing shared water resources sustainably.Cooperating to safeguard water can power and sustain peace. Water stewardship can strengthen multilateralism and ties between communities, and build resilience to climate disasters. It can also drive progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals – which are the foundation of peaceful societies – including by improving health, reducing poverty and inequality, and boosting food and water security. Let’s commit to work together, to make water a force for cooperation, harmony and stability, and so help to create a world of peace and prosperity for all. ***
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