What would you do if you were forced to leave your home?
Today, more than 68 million people around the world are refugees or internally displaced as a result of conflict or persecution.
That is equivalent to the population of the world’s 20th largest country.
Last year, someone was displaced every two seconds.
Mostly, in poorer countries.
On World Refugee Day, we must all think about what more we can we do to help.
The answer begins with unity and solidarity. Continue reading
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for your presence.
I usually come before you to express deep concerns about unfolding developments and trends around the world.
Today, a bit of good news.
I want to address a promising development for global peace and security.
The world is closely watching what will take place in Singapore in a few hours’ time.
I commend the leaders of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States for pursuing a diplomatic solution.
I also thank all those who contributed to creating the conditions for this key moment.
The two leaders are seeking to break out of the dangerous cycle that created so much concern last year.
Peace and verifiable denuclearization must remain the clear and shared goal.
As I wrote to both leaders last month, the road ahead will require cooperation, compromise and a common cause. Continue reading
Twenty-four years ago, more than 800,000 people were systematically killed in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The victims were overwhelmingly Tutsi, but also included moderate Hutu, Twa and others. Today we remember all those who were murdered and reflect on the suffering of the survivors, who have shown that reconciliation is possible, even after a tragedy of such monumental proportions.
Rwanda has learned from its tragedy; so must the international community. States have a fundamental responsibility to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. It is imperative that we unite to prevent such atrocities from occurring, and that the international community sends a strong message to perpetrators that they will be held accountable.
I am deeply concerned about the rise of racism, hate speech and xenophobia around the world. These base manifestations of human cruelty provide the breeding ground for far more evil acts. People are still being killed, displaced and their human rights abused in many parts of the world because of their faith or ethnicity. I am particularly troubled by the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. Members of this religious and ethnic minority have been systematically killed, tortured, raped, burnt alive and humiliated, and more than 671,000 have fled in search of safety in neighbouring Bangladesh. Continue reading
Dhaka, 5 April 2018: With the theme of “Empowering Women and Girls with Autism” a seminar and cultural programme on World Autism Awareness Day was organized at BPF auditorium. In his speech, UNIC NIO focused on the role and activities of United Nations in relation to autism referring UN Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons. BPF Executive Director Dr. Shamim Ferdous urged to all stakeholders to come forward in empowering women and girls in autism. UN Secretary-General’s Message (Bangla) on the Day was readout and distributed among all the participants. A cultural programme was performed by both autistic and non-autistic children. UN promotional materials were distributed among the children. The event was jointly organized by Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation (BPF), Shishu Bikash Network (SBN) and UN Information Centre on 5 April 2018.
We are at a pivotal moment for women’s rights. The historical and structural inequalities that have allowed oppression and discrimination to flourish are being exposed like never before. From Latin America to Europe to Asia, on social media, on film sets, on the factory floor and in the streets, women are calling for lasting change and zero tolerance for sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination of all kinds.
Achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls is the unfinished business of our time, and the greatest human rights challenge in our world. Continue reading
UNSG’s Text Message on Int’l Women’s Day 2018
Radio reaches the widest audience in the world.
In an era of dramatic advances in communications, radio retains its power to entertain, educate, inform and inspire.
It can unite and empower communities, and give voice to the marginalized.
This year, with the Winter Olympics now under way, we also recognize the many ways in which sports broadcasting brings people together around excitement and achievement.
On World Radio Day, let us celebrate both radio and sports as ways of helping people achieve their full potential.
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VOICES FROM LOCAL BANGLADESHI PEOPLE ON WORLD RADIO DAY 2018 (Courtesy: UNESCO Office in Dhaka)
1 January 2018: Dear friends around the world, Happy New Year. When I took office one year ago, I appealed for 2017 to be a year for peace. Unfortunately – in fundamental ways, the world has gone in reverse. On New Year’s Day 2018, I am not issuing an appeal. I am issuing an alert — a red alert for our world. Conflicts have deepened and new dangers have emerged. Global anxieties about nuclear weapons are the highest since the Cold War. Climate change is moving faster than we are. Inequalities are growing. We see horrific violations of human rights. Nationalism and xenophobia are on the rise. As we begin 2018, I call for unity. I truly believe we can make our world more safe and secure. We can settle conflicts, overcome hatred and defend shared values. But we can only do that together. I urge leaders everywhere to make this New Year’s resolution Narrow the gaps. Bridge the divides. Rebuild trust by bringing people together around common goals. Unity is the path. Our future depends on it. I wish you peace and health in 2018. Thank you. Shokran. Xie Xie. Merci. Spasiba. Gracias. Obrigado.
This year’s commemoration of Human Rights Day marks the beginning of a year-long celebration of seven decades since the adoption of one of the world’s most profound and far-reaching international agreements. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights establishes the equality and dignity of every human being and stipulates that every government has a core duty to enable all people to enjoy all their inalienable rights and freedoms.
All of us have a right to speak freely and participate in decisions that affect our lives. We all have a right to live free from all forms of discrimination. We have a right to education, health care, economic opportunities and a decent standard of living. We have rights to privacy and justice. These rights are relevant to all of us, every day. They are the foundation of peaceful societies and sustainable development.
Since the proclamation of the Universal Declaration in 1948, human rights have been one of the three pillars of the United Nations, along with peace and development. While human rights abuses did not end when the Universal Declaration was adopted, the Declaration has helped countless people to gain greater freedom and security. It has helped to prevent violations, obtain justice for wrongs, and strengthen national and international human rights laws and safeguards. Continue reading
Our world faces many grave challenges.
Widening conflicts and inequality.
Extreme weather and deadly intolerance.
Security threats – including nuclear weapons.
We have the tools and wealth to overcome these challenges. All we need is the will.
The world’s problems transcend borders.
We have to transcend our differences to transform our future.
When we achieve human rights and human dignity for all people – they will build a peaceful, sustainable and just world.
On United Nations Day, let us, ‘We the Peoples’, make this vision a reality.
Thank you. Shokran. Xie Xie. Merci. Spasibo. Gracias. Obrigado. Yet