16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

Dhaka 6 December 2017: Over the past few days, the campaign, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, has been spreading around the world. This is an annual event that starts on the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women” (November 25) and ends 16 days later on “Human Rights Day” (December 10). This year, the UN Secretary-General Antotio Guterres’s initiative UNiTE Campaign will mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence under the overarching theme, “Leave No One Behind: End Violence against Women and Girls”— reflecting the core principle of the trans-formative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with the coordinating colour orange to symbolize a brighter future in which females can live without fear of violence. UN-Women along with other UN Agencies, including UNIC Dhaka, are taking part in this campaign in separate locations of Bangladesh. A partial view of UN staff members who expressed their solidarity for the 16 Days Activism.

UN Library Network Workshop 2017 organized by UNIC Dhaka and ICDDR,B

Dhaka, 2 December 2017: With the theme of “Re-imagining Libraries, Technology Transfer And Resource Sharing in Libraries of Bangladesh: An Observation” a day-long workshop was organized by UNIC Dhaka and ICDDR,B on 2 December at ICDDR,B conference room. The thematic key-note paper was presented by Prof. Dr. S.M. Mannan, Department of Information Science and Library Management, University of Dhaka. ICDDR,B Head of Library Dr. Nazim Uddin and UNIC NIO M Moniruzzaman also spoke in the workshop while participants took part in open discussion and Question/Answer session. Two short videos of UN Library Network in Bangladesh and ICDDR,B library were screened before the audiences. Around forty library and information professionals from public, private, NGOs, academic and international institutions took part in the workshop.

 

COP23 – Bonn, 2017

COP23 refers to the 23rd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit, UNFCCC was endorsed, signifying the beginning of the international community’s foremost collaborative effort to combat the issue of climate change. The UNFCCC, recognized also as the Rio Convention, inaugurated a basis for action to stabilize concentrations of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere. In 1994, the UNFCCC was enforced and nearly all of the world’s nations (195) have signed on. Government delegates and leaders congregated in Bonn, Germany for the 2017 UN Climate Change Conference. Under the Presidency of Fiji with the support of Germany, UN Climate Change will host this annual meeting. COP23 is taking place in Bonn, Germany, from the 6-17 November.

UN Day Reception 2017, UN works video screening and launch of Bangla version of Basic Facts about United Nations

Dhaka 26 October 2017: In observance of United Nations Day, UNRC Office with the support of UN System organized a reception for the stakeholders associated with different UN agencies in Bangladesh. The Bangla translated version of volumous UN DPI publications – Aajker Jatisongho (Basic Facts About United Nations) was formally launched by Hon’ble Finance Minister and UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh. UN Secretary-General’s video message on UN Day was screened before the participants, a documentary composing of photographs of UN system-wide works was also screened before the audiences.The senior officials of different ministries including Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Fianance and Planning, Ministry of Public Administration, Chief of Army, Inspector General Police and other dignitories, diplomats, NGO representatives, civil society organizations, academicians and young leaders participated in the reception. The copies of Bangla version of Basic Facts about United Nations were distributed among the stakeholders who took part in the reception. UNIC Dhaka translated and published the book to cater the need of Bangla readers in home and abroad.

Bangladesh Engineering Company Repairs Road from Juba to Ladu

James Ohisa and Juma Ochi

27 Oct 2017: Work has begun on repairing a major road linking the capital Juba to communities living in the north of the city by Bangladeshi engineers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

The maintenance operation will cover 18 kilometres of road and is expected to be completed in six weeks’ time. The state of roads across South Sudan is causing significant problems for local communities and traders as well as the UN peacekeeping mission with war and weather devastating key infrastructure such as bridges and culverts and turning the surfaces into mud.

The Bangladeshi Project Officer, Major Kamrul Hasan, said the road maintenance would improve the situation for travellers as well as enable the engineering contingent to more easily access a gravel collection site.

The project is posing some major challenges.

“One of the major setback that is affecting our activities here is bad weather, there have been very heavy rain falls, which obstructed the progress of our work,” said Major Kamrul Hasan. “At one point soldiers at a check point also prevented us from collecting gravel despite the county commissioner giving us permission to do so”.

However, he said the community was very supportive with many of those passing waving in appreciation as they carried out their work.

Local authorities in the area have also expressed their appreciation with Ladu Deputy Commissioner Sapana Ginaba saying that road improvements would ease transportation woes in the area and encourage development.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s Message on United Nations Day – 24 October 2017

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

Press Statement from the UN Resident Coordinator, Bangladesh: Rohingya Refugee Crisis Pledging Conference in Geveva, 23 October 2017

GENEVA/DHAKA, 23 October: At the Pledging Conference for the Rohingya Refugee Crisis held in Geneva on 23 October, the international community came together and vowed to stand with the refugees in Bangladesh, committing to provide US$340 million to the ongoing humanitarian response.

At the beginning of October, the humanitarian community in Bangladesh released a Response Plan that called for $434 million. Since then the number of refugees in Bangladesh has continued to rise, with tens of thousands of people still making the journey across the border every week.

Prior to the Pledging Conference, the Response Plan was funded at only 27 percent. The commitments delivered at the conference were an opportunity for the international community to collectively mobilize resources to provide life-saving assistance to refugees, and members of the host community, in Cox’s Bazar. Continue reading

Building Peace Through Football: Bangladesh battalion commanding officer in Wau, said sporting events like this help keep young people away from criminal activity

ZENEBE TEKLEWOLD

The referee blew the final whistle as the sun set behind the cloud filled sky.

Playing on a dusty red football pitch surrounded by lush greenery in Wau in the Western Bahr el Ghazal region, a friendly match between Masharuch and Darfur ended in a one-one draw.

Colonel Reazur Rahman, the Bangladesh battalion commanding officer in Wau, said sporting events like this help keep young people away from criminal activity.

“Local people here, especially the young, love to watch and play football,” said Colonel Rahman. “We hope that one day they will play in bigger tournaments.”

Franco Abuna Anthona, a player from the Musharuch team, said sport brings people together and builds confidence and reconciliation between South Sudanese people.

“There is nothing that brings people together like sports,” he said.

Both teams received footballs and jerseys from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan to use during games and practice.

“The visit and support by UNMISS has made us very happy,” said Adul Mahumud Mohamed from the Darfur team. “We will now come here regularly to train and hopefully more people will come to watch the games.”

On behalf of the teams, Mr. Anthona said that they appreciated efforts by the Mission and Bangladeshi peacekeepers for organizing the football match.

UNMISS Bangladeshi peacekeepers recently provided medical care for more than 300 local residents at a one-day “medical camping” facility.

Their veterinarian peacekeepers have also treated more than 600 animals as part of the contingent’s outreach programme.

Application for UN Young Leader 2017

Last September, the United Nations announced the inaugural class of the Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals – 17 young change-makers whose leadership is catalyzing the achievement of the Goals. From food to fashion to finance, the Young Leaders come from many different backgrounds, represent every region in the world and help activate young people in support of the Goals. The call for applications for the next class of Young Leaders of SDGs is now live!

Convened by the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, these Young Leaders are recognized for their leadership and contribution to a more sustainable world. The Young Leaders come together as a community to support efforts to engage young people in the realization of the SDGs both through strategic opportunities with the UN and through their existing initiatives, platforms and networks. Young Leaders will be expected to actively support one or more of the following objectives:

Advocate for the Goals, in ways most accessible and relatable to young people across different contexts; Promote innovative ways of engaging their audiences and peers in the advocacy and realization of the Goals; Contribute to a brain trust of young leaders supporting the UN and partners for key moments and initiatives related to the Goals. Continue reading

International Day of Peace: Children Art Contest and Rally

In observance of International Day of Peace, UNIC Dhaka jointly with Dhakabashi organization and National Federation of Youth Organizations in Bangladesh (NFYOB) organized a Children Art Contest and Rally respectively at Hazaribagh Community Centre and Hazaribagh Park area on 21 September 2017. The events were focused on theme of peace day – ‘Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All’. President of Dhakabashi organization, local community leaders and Head of UNIC Dhaka spoke on the occassion and emphasied on establishment of peace in the current international situation, especially refugee and migrant issues and Rohinga influx into Bangladesh. Prizes were awarded by UNIC Dhaka among winners of art contest from Mars Laboratory School, Bangladesh Cadet School, Rifles Public School. Later a rally was organized with the participation of students and community leaders.