Dhaka, 27 June 2016: On the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, UNIC Dhaka, LIFE and UNYSAB jointly organized discussion seminar and launched a Signature Campaign on 27 June 2016 at UNIC Conference Room. Mr. Mahmud Hassan, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, GoB spoke as the chief guest while M. Moniruzzaman, Officer-In-Charge of UNIC Dhaka moderated the launching session. ABM Kamrul Ahsan, Programme Coordinator of UNODC Bangladesh, Kamrul Islam Sony, Executive Director, LIFE and Mohammad Mamun Mia, President of UNYSAB spoke as special guests on the occasion. Students from different universities were also present at the event to share their views and they pledged to work as ambassadors against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The UN Secretary-General’s message on the Day and SDGs Bangla post cards were distributed among the participants. The signature campaign will be continued both by online media usage and in different academic institutions. The main objective of the campaign is to create awareness among the youth and to raise voice against drug abuse.
Monthly Archives: June 2016
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Message on International Day of Yoga: 21 June 2016
Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India and is now practiced in various forms around the world. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.
Yoga balances body and soul, physical health and mental well-being. It promotes harmony among people, and between ourselves and the natural world. Recognizing its universal appeal, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga. Continue reading
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Message on World Refugee Day: 20 June 2016
Forced displacement has reached unprecedented levels, with more than 65 million people uprooted from their homes globally. New and recurring conflicts, and ever-more disturbing forms of violence and persecution, are driving people to flee in search of safety within their own countries, or to cross international borders as asylum seekers or refugees. Others are living in long-term exile, as solutions to protracted conflicts remain elusive. At the end of 2015, there were 21.3 million refugees, 3.2 million people in the process of seeking asylum, and 40.8 million people internally displaced within their own countries.
World Refugee Day is a moment for taking stock of the devastating impact of war and persecution on the lives of those forced to flee, and honouring their courage and resilience. It is also a moment for paying tribute to the communities and States that receive and host them, often in remote border regions affected by poverty, instability and underdevelopment, and beyond the gaze of international attention. Nine out of ten refugees are today living in poor and middle income countries close to situations of conflict. Continue reading
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Message on the 100-Day Countdown to the Intrenational Day of Peace: 13 June 2016
Every year on the International Day of Peace, the United Nations calls on the peoples of the world to remember their common humanity and join together to build a future free of strife. It calls on all of us to observe a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, and to honour a cessation of hostilities for the duration of the Day.
This year’s theme – the Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace – highlights how ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring broadly shared prosperity all contribute to global harmony. When we all work together, we can make peace possible, starting with 24 hours of peace on September 21.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals were unanimously adopted by the 193 Member States of the United Nations at an historic summit in September 2015. They are universal, applying to all countries. And they are integral to achieving peace. Continue reading
Zero tolerance for the illegal trade in wildlife: UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki-moon’s Message on World Environment Day
5 June 2016: This year’s observance of World Environment Day shines a much-needed spotlight on the illegal trade in wildlife. There is grave cause for alarm. Elephants are being slaughtered for their ivory, rhinos for their horns, and pangolins for their scales. From sea turtles to tigers to rosewood, thousands of species of wild animals and plants are being driven ever closer to extinction. The businesses and individuals involved are motivated solely by short-term gain at the expense of long-term benefit to communities and habitats. In many instances, they act in collusion with transnational organized crime networks and groups actively involved in destabilizing nations. Continue reading
Ban ‘deeply saddened’ by passing of Muhammad Ali, ‘world champion for equality and peace’
4 June 2016 – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said he is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Muhammad Ali, and extended his condolences to the Ali family and the many millions of fans mourning his death in every corner of the world.
“Mr. Ali was far more than a legendary boxer; he was a world champion for equality and peace. With an incomparable combination of principle, charm, wit and grace, he fought for a better world and used his platform to help lift up humanity,” Mr. Ban highlighted in a statement issued by his spokesperson.
Named a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 1998, Mr. Ali travelled the globe to support children and others caught up in conflict, and to promote reconciliation between people and nations. Well before taking on this role, he came to the United Nations in the 1970s to campaign against apartheid and racial injustice. Continue reading