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22 April 2022
When Mother Earth sends us a message
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Press Release
19 April 2022
Citing dire needs, UN Chief calls for 4-day Holy Week humanitarian pause in Ukraine
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Press Release
13 April 2022
SG Op-Ed on Global Crisis Response Group “The War in Ukraine: A Silent Assault on the Developing World”
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The Sustainable Development Goals in Serbia
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. These are the goals the UN is working on in Serbia:
Story
22 April 2022
When Mother Earth sends us a message
Nature is suffering. Oceans filling with plastic and turning more acidic. Extreme heat, wildfires and floods, have affected millions of people. Even these days, we are still facing COVID-19, a worldwide health pandemic linked to the health of our ecosystem.
Climate change, man-made changes to nature as well as crimes that disrupt biodiversity, such as deforestation, land-use change, intensified agriculture and livestock production or the growing illegal wildlife trade, can accelerate the speed of destruction of the planet.
This is the first Mother Earth Day celebrated within the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Ecosystems support all life on Earth. The healthier our ecosystems are, the healthier the planet - and its people. Restoring our damaged ecosystems will help to end poverty, combat climate change and prevent mass extinction. But we will only succeed if everyone plays a part.
For this International Mother Earth Day, let's remimd ourselves - more than ever - that we need a shift to a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet. Let’s promote harmony with nature and the Earth. Join the global movement to restore our world!
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Story
11 April 2022
From the war in Ukraine to climate change, Deputy Secretary-General and UN leaders in Europe and Central Asia talk sustainability in action
“The 2030 Agenda remains our blueprint for action. Rescuing the Sustainable Development Goals in the Decade of Action across the region is, and will remain, the absolute priority for our work,” Ms. Mohammed told the Resident Coordinators gathered in Geneva for a meeting back to back with the Regional Forum for Sustainable Development.
“Attaining the SDGs will mean overcoming setbacks that had already been caused by COVID-19, and accelerating efforts in-country and across the region.”
The UN Development Coordination Office’s Europe and Central Asia network is made up of Resident Coordinators posted in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo (UNSCR 1244), Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Unprecedented Challenges “This region faces unprecedented challenges as war rages in Ukraine,” Ms. Mohammed said.
“The most directly affected country is Ukraine itself, of course. But the effects of the war are being felt across the whole the region. Some are humanitarian, as countries in the region display unprecedented solidarity by taking in refugees from Ukraine. And some are economic, as trade ties and labor markets are disrupted.” For example, of the 4.3 million people who have fled from Ukraine since 24 February, around 399,000 have crossed the border into Moldova, according to data from 5 April. Given that Moldova is a nation of just four million people, in proportion to its population it is the country with the highest number of arrivals from Ukraine in the world. Around two-thirds of the refugees have moved on to other countries, notably neighboring Romania, but tens of thousands have remained in Moldova.
Among the other pressures in the region is the spillover effect from international sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation, with inflation of currencies, increased import bills, higher consumer prices for food staples, and increased production costs. Specifically, countries in Central Asia are highly dependent on remittances from labour migrants in Russia, which for millions of households are the sole source of income for families. Central Asian countries that neighbour Afghanistan had already been facing impacts from the upsurge in that country’s crisis since in 2021.
In addition, the region is continuing to face the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Mohammed underscored that, as the representatives of the UN Secretary-General for development in countries, Resident Coordinators have convening power, an ability to broker partnerships, and to provide the effective coordination needed to achieve results on the ground.
Given the massive impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine, like their role in the COVID-19 response, Resident Coordinators will be delivering fast-tracked development support to countries in the region. She added that gender inequality remains a priority to address in the region and is a major hurdle to sustainable and inclusive development. For example, gender gaps are persistent in participation in the labor force (66 per cent men compared to 50.6 per cent women) and wages (about 30 per cent); and women continue to face several major constraints including lack of affordable and quality childcare, the double burden of domestic and professional work and social pressure to conform to gender roles.
In addition, inequalities are fueling political, economic, and social tensions, human rights abuses, violence against women, and conflicts, she warned. Selected Quotes from Resident Coordinators:
Osnat Lubrani, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, highlighted that “the UN is scaling up the humanitarian response, working closely with the Government of Ukraine and using national system to provide multi-purpose cash assistance. But there is a massive destruction of infrastructure that will require significant support to recover.”
Fiona McCluney, the UN Resident Coordinator for Albania, stressed the importance of partnership to deliver on the 2030 Agenda. She also underscored the need to ensure coherence in strategies and approaches, in particular in “safeguarding the focus on climate action and to mitigate the risk that its ambition is scaled back because of pressures of the war and from the private sector.”
“Attaining the SDGs will mean overcoming setbacks that had already been caused by COVID-19, and accelerating efforts in-country and across the region.”
The UN Development Coordination Office’s Europe and Central Asia network is made up of Resident Coordinators posted in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo (UNSCR 1244), Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Unprecedented Challenges “This region faces unprecedented challenges as war rages in Ukraine,” Ms. Mohammed said.
“The most directly affected country is Ukraine itself, of course. But the effects of the war are being felt across the whole the region. Some are humanitarian, as countries in the region display unprecedented solidarity by taking in refugees from Ukraine. And some are economic, as trade ties and labor markets are disrupted.” For example, of the 4.3 million people who have fled from Ukraine since 24 February, around 399,000 have crossed the border into Moldova, according to data from 5 April. Given that Moldova is a nation of just four million people, in proportion to its population it is the country with the highest number of arrivals from Ukraine in the world. Around two-thirds of the refugees have moved on to other countries, notably neighboring Romania, but tens of thousands have remained in Moldova.
Among the other pressures in the region is the spillover effect from international sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation, with inflation of currencies, increased import bills, higher consumer prices for food staples, and increased production costs. Specifically, countries in Central Asia are highly dependent on remittances from labour migrants in Russia, which for millions of households are the sole source of income for families. Central Asian countries that neighbour Afghanistan had already been facing impacts from the upsurge in that country’s crisis since in 2021.
In addition, the region is continuing to face the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Mohammed underscored that, as the representatives of the UN Secretary-General for development in countries, Resident Coordinators have convening power, an ability to broker partnerships, and to provide the effective coordination needed to achieve results on the ground.
Given the massive impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine, like their role in the COVID-19 response, Resident Coordinators will be delivering fast-tracked development support to countries in the region. She added that gender inequality remains a priority to address in the region and is a major hurdle to sustainable and inclusive development. For example, gender gaps are persistent in participation in the labor force (66 per cent men compared to 50.6 per cent women) and wages (about 30 per cent); and women continue to face several major constraints including lack of affordable and quality childcare, the double burden of domestic and professional work and social pressure to conform to gender roles.
In addition, inequalities are fueling political, economic, and social tensions, human rights abuses, violence against women, and conflicts, she warned. Selected Quotes from Resident Coordinators:
Osnat Lubrani, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, highlighted that “the UN is scaling up the humanitarian response, working closely with the Government of Ukraine and using national system to provide multi-purpose cash assistance. But there is a massive destruction of infrastructure that will require significant support to recover.”
Fiona McCluney, the UN Resident Coordinator for Albania, stressed the importance of partnership to deliver on the 2030 Agenda. She also underscored the need to ensure coherence in strategies and approaches, in particular in “safeguarding the focus on climate action and to mitigate the risk that its ambition is scaled back because of pressures of the war and from the private sector.”
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Story
06 April 2022
The evidence is clear: the time for action is now. We can halve emissions by 2030.
Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, limiting global warming to 1.5°C is beyond reach. However, there is increasing evidence of climate action, said scientists in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released today.
Since 2010, there have been sustained decreases of up to 85% in the costs of solar and wind energy, and batteries. An increasing range of policies and laws have enhanced energy efficiency, reduced rates of deforestation and accelerated the deployment of renewable energy.
“We are at a crossroads. The decisions we make now can secure a liveable future. We have the tools and know-how required to limit warming,” said IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee. “I am encouraged by climate action being taken in many countries. There are policies, regulations and market instruments that are proving effective. If these are scaled up and applied more widely and equitably, they can support deep emissions reductions and stimulate innovation.”
The Summary for Policymakers of the IPCC Working Group III report, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of climate change was approved on April 4 2022, by 195 member governments of the IPCC, through a virtual approval session that started on March 21. It is the third instalment of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), which will be completed this year.
We have options in all sectors to at least halve emissions by 2030
Limiting global warming will require major transitions in the energy sector. This will involve a substantial reduction in fossil fuel use, widespread electrification, improved energy efficiency, and use of alternative fuels (such as hydrogen).
“Having the right policies, infrastructure and technology in place to enable changes to our lifestyles and behaviour can result in a 40-70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This offers significant untapped potential,” said IPCC Working Group III Co-Chair Priyadarshi Shukla. “The evidence also shows that these lifestyle changes can improve our health and wellbeing.”
Cities and other urban areas also offer significant opportunities for emissions reductions. These can be achieved through lower energy consumption (such as by creating compact, walkable cities), electrification of transport in combination with low-emission energy sources, and enhanced carbon uptake and storage using nature. There are options for established, rapidly growing and new cities.
“We see examples of zero energy or zero-carbon buildings in almost all climates,” said IPCC Working Group III Co-Chair Jim Skea. “Action in this decade is critical to capture the mitigation potential of buildings.”
Reducing emissions in industry will involve using materials more efficiently, reusing and recycling products and minimising waste. For basic materials, including steel, building materials and chemicals, low- to zero-greenhouse gas production processes are at their pilot to near-commercial stage.
This sector accounts for about a quarter of global emissions. Achieving net zero will be challenging and will require new production processes, low and zero emissions electricity, hydrogen, and, where necessary, carbon capture and storage.
Agriculture, forestry, and other land use can provide large-scale emissions reductions and also remove and store carbon dioxide at scale. However, land cannot compensate for delayed emissions reductions in other sectors. Response options can benefit biodiversity, help us adapt to climate change, and secure livelihoods, food and water, and wood supplies.
The next few years are critical
In the scenarios we assessed, limiting warming to around 1.5°C (2.7°F) requires global greenhouse gas emissions to peak before 2025 at the latest, and be reduced by 43% by 2030; at the same time, methane would also need to be reduced by about a third. Even if we do this, it is almost inevitable that we will temporarily exceed this temperature threshold but could return to below it by the end of the century.
“It’s now or never, if we want to limit global warming to 1.5°C (2.7°F),” said Skea. “Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, it will be impossible.”
The global temperature will stabilise when carbon dioxide emissions reach net zero. For 1.5°C (2.7°F), this means achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions globally in the early 2050s; for 2°C (3.6°F), it is in the early 2070s.
This assessment shows that limiting warming to around 2°C (3.6°F) still requires global greenhouse gas emissions to peak before 2025 at the latest, and be reduced by a quarter by 2030.
Closing investment gaps
The report looks beyond technologies and demonstrates that while financial flows are a factor of three to six times lower than levels needed by 2030 to limit warming to below 2°C (3.6°F), there is sufficient global capital and liquidity to close investment gaps. However, it relies on clear signalling from governments and the international community, including a stronger alignment of public sector finance and policy.
“Without taking into account the economic benefits of reduced adaptation costs or avoided climate impacts, global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would be just a few percentage points lower in 2050 if we take the actions necessary to limit warming to 2°C (3.6°F) or below, compared to maintaining current policies,” said Shukla.
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
Accelerated and equitable climate action in mitigating and adapting to climate change impacts is critical to sustainable development. Some response options can absorb and store carbon and, at the same time, help communities limit the impacts associated with climate change. For example, in cities, networks of parks and open spaces, wetlands and urban agriculture can reduce flood risk and reduce heat-island effects.
Mitigation in industry can reduce environmental impacts and increase employment and business opportunities. Electrification with renewables and shifts in public transport can enhance health, employment, and equity.
“Climate change is the result of more than a century of unsustainable energy and land use, lifestyles and patterns of consumption and production,” said Skea. “This report shows how taking action now can move us towards a fairer, more sustainable world.”
For more information, please contact:
IPCC Press Office, Email: ipcc-media@wmo.int
IPCC Working Group III:
Sigourney Luz: s.luz@ipcc-wg3.ac.uk
Sigourney Luz: s.luz@ipcc-wg3.ac.uk
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Story
22 March 2022
Adoption of the Declaration on the Abolition of Child Marriage in Serbia
On 10 March 2022, thanks in part to UNICEF’s advocacy efforts, the National Council of the Roma National Minority adopted the Declaration on the Abolition of Child Marriage. It was adopted because of the consensus reached by Roma leaders. This is the first time that a national representative body of the Roma minority in Serbia has issued such a declaration, calling on Roma leaders, men and women, as well as Roma associations, to reassess the practice and belief that child marriage is part of the cultural heritage of Roma people.
The Declaration clearly defines child marriage as a violation of child rights which endangers the lives and future of girls and boys, deprives them of the opportunity to make decisions about their lives, hinders their education, makes them vulnerable to violence, discrimination, and abuse.
The National Council of the Roma National Minority also calls on the institutions of the Republic of Serbia and local self-governments to implement and support laws and policies that prevent child marriage and protect children at risk.
This Declaration is a great step towards abandoning practices and beliefs that prevent children and families from the Roma community from reaching their full potential.
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Story
08 March 2022
Unaccompanied and separated children fleeing escalating conflict in Ukraine must be protected
NEW YORK/GENEVA – In the past week, more than one million refugees have been forced to flee Ukraine seeking safety and protection. Hundreds of thousands of them are children. Amongst those fleeing, many are unaccompanied or have been separated from their parents or family members.
Children without parental care are at a heightened risk of violence, abuse and exploitation. When these children are moved across borders, the risks are multiplied. The risk of trafficking also soars in emergencies.
UNICEF and UNHCR urge all neighbouring and impacted countries to ensure the immediate identification and registration of unaccompanied and separated children fleeing from Ukraine, after allowing them access to their territory.
States should offer safe spaces for children and families immediately following border crossings, and link these to national child protection systems. The current emergency also necessitates rapidly expanding the capacity of emergency care arrangements with screened caregivers as well as other critical services for the protection of children, including against gender-based violence, as well as family tracing and reunification mechanisms.
For children who have been displaced across borders without their families, temporary foster or other community-based care through a government system offers critical protection. Adoption should not occur during or immediately after emergencies. Every effort should be made to reunify children with their families when possible, if such reunification is in their best interest.
Nearly 100,000 children, half of them with disabilities, live in institutional care and boarding schools in Ukraine. Many of these children have living relatives or legal guardians. We have received reports of institutions seeking to move children to safety in neighbouring countries or beyond. While recognizing that, under specific circumstances, humanitarian evacuations can be lifesaving and welcoming efforts to bring children to safety, it is critical that special measures be taken in the best interest of the children, and that the consent of their parents or persons responsible for their care be granted. Under no circumstances should families be separated as a result of relocation or evacuation movements.
Those legally responsible for children in institutions in Ukraine must ensure that evacuations are done in line with national authorities’ instructions. Movements must be reported to competent authorities in Ukraine and neighboring countries immediately upon crossing the border, and as far as possible, children should be evacuated with their identification papers and case files.
UNHCR and UNICEF are grateful for the solidarity and readiness shown by States to support unaccompanied and separated children through eventual relocation schemes. At the same time, it must be recalled that unaccompanied and separated children are particularly vulnerable and their immediate needs and safety where they are must be prioritized in the short term, while medium to long term solutions are identified, based on their best interests.
UNHCR and UNICEF are committed to working hand-in-hand to support national authorities to protect children, ensuring that their safety and protection are at the centre of the response.
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
Follow UNICEF on Twitter and Facebook
About UNHCR:
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, protects people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We work in over 130 countries, protecting millions of people by responding with life-saving support, safeguarding fundamental human rights and helping them build a better future.
For more information about UNHCR, visit www.unhcr.org/about-us.html
Follow UNHCR on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Linked In
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Press Release
20 April 2022
Citing dire needs, UN Chief calls for 4-day Holy Week humanitarian pause in Ukraine
In five days, Ukrainians and Russians will mark Easter. This holiday unites the Orthodox Christians in both Russia and Ukraine -- as well as Catholic Ukrainians -- in celebration.
Easter is a season for renewal, resurrection and hope.
It is a time for reflection on the meaning of suffering, sacrifice, death — and rebirth.
It is meant to be a moment of unity.
But this year, Holy Week is being observed under the cloud of a war that represents the total negation of the Easter message.
Instead of celebration of a new life, this Easter coincides with a Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine.
The intense concentration of forces and firepower makes this battle inevitably more violent, bloody and destructive.
The onslaught and terrible toll on civilians we have seen so far could pale in comparison to the horror that lies ahead. This cannot be allowed to happen.
Hundreds of thousands of lives hang in the balance.
Many good-faith efforts by many parties to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine have failed.
Today I am calling for a 4-day Holy Week humanitarian pause beginning on Holy Thursday and running through Easter Sunday, April 24th, to allow for the opening of a series of humanitarian corridors.
The humanitarian pause would provide the necessary conditions to meet two crucial imperatives.
First, safe passage of all civilians willing to leave the areas of current and expected confrontation, in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Second, beyond humanitarian operations already taking place, a pause will allow for the safe delivery of lifesaving humanitarian aid to people in the hardest-hit areas such as Mariupol, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk.
The United Nations is ready to send humanitarian aid convoys during this period to these locations. We are submitting detailed plans to the parties.
Humanitarian needs are dire. People do not have food, water, supplies to treat the sick or wounded or simply to live day-to-day.
More than 12 million people need humanitarian assistance in Ukraine today. Of those, more than one-third are in Mariupol, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk.
We anticipate that this figure will increase to 15.7 million – that’s about 40 percent of all Ukrainians still left in the country.
There is a measure of progress to build upon. Some 2.5 million people have been provided with assistance in the past seven weeks, including many in the east.
For all these life-or-death reasons, I call on Russians and Ukrainians to silence the guns and forge a path to safety for so many at immediate risk.
The 4-day Easter period should be a moment to unite around saving lives and furthering dialogue to end the suffering in Ukraine.
This morning, the Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths briefed the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations – including Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim and Jewish leaders. I welcome their support.
Inspired by Holy Week and all that it represents, I urge all parties – and all champions of peace around the world -- to join my Easter appeal.
Save lives.
Stop the bloodshed and destruction.
Open a window for dialogue and peace and keep faith with the meaning and the message of Easter.
Thank you.
Easter is a season for renewal, resurrection and hope.
It is a time for reflection on the meaning of suffering, sacrifice, death — and rebirth.
It is meant to be a moment of unity.
But this year, Holy Week is being observed under the cloud of a war that represents the total negation of the Easter message.
Instead of celebration of a new life, this Easter coincides with a Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine.
The intense concentration of forces and firepower makes this battle inevitably more violent, bloody and destructive.
The onslaught and terrible toll on civilians we have seen so far could pale in comparison to the horror that lies ahead. This cannot be allowed to happen.
Hundreds of thousands of lives hang in the balance.
Many good-faith efforts by many parties to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine have failed.
Today I am calling for a 4-day Holy Week humanitarian pause beginning on Holy Thursday and running through Easter Sunday, April 24th, to allow for the opening of a series of humanitarian corridors.
The humanitarian pause would provide the necessary conditions to meet two crucial imperatives.
First, safe passage of all civilians willing to leave the areas of current and expected confrontation, in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Second, beyond humanitarian operations already taking place, a pause will allow for the safe delivery of lifesaving humanitarian aid to people in the hardest-hit areas such as Mariupol, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk.
The United Nations is ready to send humanitarian aid convoys during this period to these locations. We are submitting detailed plans to the parties.
Humanitarian needs are dire. People do not have food, water, supplies to treat the sick or wounded or simply to live day-to-day.
More than 12 million people need humanitarian assistance in Ukraine today. Of those, more than one-third are in Mariupol, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk.
We anticipate that this figure will increase to 15.7 million – that’s about 40 percent of all Ukrainians still left in the country.
There is a measure of progress to build upon. Some 2.5 million people have been provided with assistance in the past seven weeks, including many in the east.
For all these life-or-death reasons, I call on Russians and Ukrainians to silence the guns and forge a path to safety for so many at immediate risk.
The 4-day Easter period should be a moment to unite around saving lives and furthering dialogue to end the suffering in Ukraine.
This morning, the Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths briefed the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations – including Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim and Jewish leaders. I welcome their support.
Inspired by Holy Week and all that it represents, I urge all parties – and all champions of peace around the world -- to join my Easter appeal.
Save lives.
Stop the bloodshed and destruction.
Open a window for dialogue and peace and keep faith with the meaning and the message of Easter.
Thank you.
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Press Release
14 April 2022
SG Op-Ed on Global Crisis Response Group “The War in Ukraine: A Silent Assault on the Developing World”
But the war is also fast becoming a matter of life and death for vulnerable people around the world.
We have all seen the tragedy unfolding inside Ukraine: cities flattened; people suffering and dying in their homes and in the streets; the fastest displacement crisis in Europe since the Second World War.
But beyond Ukraine’s borders, far beyond the media spotlight, the war has launched a silent assault on the developing world. This crisis could throw up to 1.7 billion people — over one-fifth of humanity — into poverty, destitution and hunger on a scale not seen in decades.
Ukraine and the Russian Federation provide 30 per cent of the world’s wheat and barley, one-fifth of its maize, and over half of its sunflower oil. Together, their grain feeds the poorest and most vulnerable people, providing more than one-third of the wheat imported by 45 African and least-developed countries.
At the same time, Russia is the world’s top natural gas exporter, and second-largest oil exporter.
But the war is preventing farmers from tending their crops, while closing ports, ending grain exports, disrupting supply chains and sending prices skyrocketing.
Many developing countries are still struggling to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with historic debt burdens and soaring inflation.
Since the start of 2022, wheat and maize prices have increased by 30 per cent.
Brent oil prices have risen more than 60 per cent over the last year, while natural gas and fertilizer prices have more than doubled.
The United Nations’ own lifesaving operations are under severe strain. The World Food Programme has warned that it faces the impossible choice of taking from the hungry to feed the starving. It urgently needs $8 billion to support its operations in Yemen, Chad and Niger.
Some countries are already sliding from vulnerability to crisis and serious social unrest. And we know the roots of many conflicts lie in poverty, inequality, under-development and hopelessness.
But while much of the world has stepped up in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, there is no sign of the same support for the 1.7 billion other potential victims of this war.
We have a clear moral duty to support them, everywhere.
The Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance that I launched last month aims to develop coordinated solutions to these interlinked crises, with governments, international financial institutions and other key partners. I thank the global leaders in all sectors who are supporting this initiative.
On food, we are urging all countries to keep markets open, resist hoarding and unjustified and unnecessary export restrictions, and make reserves available to countries at the highest risk of hunger and famine.
This is not the time for protectionism. There is enough food for every country to get through this crisis if we act together.
Humanitarian appeals must be fully funded, including for the World Food Programme. We simply cannot allow people to starve in the twenty-first century.
On energy, the use of strategic stockpiles and additional reserves could help to ease this energy crisis in the short term.
But the only medium- and long-term solution is to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy, which is not impacted by market fluctuations. This will allow the progressive phase-out of coal and all other fossil fuels.
And on finance, the G20 and international financial institutions must go into emergency mode. They must find ways to increase liquidity and fiscal space, so that governments in developing countries can invest in the poorest and most vulnerable, and in the Sustainable Development Goals.
This should be a first step towards deep reforms to our unfair global financial system, which makes the rich richer and the poor poorer.
Social protection, including cash transfers, will be essential to support desperate families through this crisis.
But many developing countries with large external debts do not have the liquidity to provide these safety nets. We cannot stand by and watch, as they are forced to choose between investing in their people, and servicing their debt.
The only lasting solution to the war in Ukraine and its assault on the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world is peace.
As the United Nations works to support the innocent victims of this war — both inside and outside Ukraine — we call on the global community to speak with one voice and support our plea for peace.
This war must end, now.
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Press Release
15 March 2022
Analysis of research on direct measurement of food waste in Belgrade shows that commercial sector throws away over 40 thousand tons of food annually
Within the direct measurements that were carried out, a total of 29 representative commercial outlets were observed,: hotels and other accommodation, restaurants and fast food outlets, retails, schools and kindergartens, and other commercial outlets.
Quantities of food waste from commercial outlets
Based on the obtained projected data, most of the waste is generated within the group of restaurants and fast-food outlets, with over 21 thousand tons annually. This is followed by retail outlets with 4,767 tons/year, schools and kindergartens with 3,551 tons/year, and finally groups of hotels and accommodation with an annual generation rate of 1,302 tons. The remaining commercial food waste generators (public institutions and companies with their restaurants, markets, hospitals, etc.) generate more than 9,000 tons of food waste annually.
Morphological composition of food waste
The projection of the morphological composition of food waste shows that on average the most dominant category is vegetables, with a share of over 45 percent, with the highest percentage recorded within the group of schools and kindergartens (62 percent).
The second most represented category is fruit, with almost 19 percent, with this category being the most represented in the retail sector (over 38 percent).
The categories of meat, fish and eggs, and bread and pastries, in the total average composition, have similar values (about 14 percent), while the category of milk and dairy products has the lowest value for virtually all observed groups of commercial establishments, with a final average share of about 5 percent.
If the amount of food waste from the commercial sector is shown in relation to the total population of Belgrade, 26.5 kilograms of edible and inedible food waste is generated per person annually. Also, previous direct measurements of food waste in households showed that every inhabitant of Belgrade throws away an average of 108.1 kilograms of edible and inedible parts of food annually. The summarized values of these two researches indicate that the total food waste generated in Belgrade, on an annual level, is about 205,000 tons, or 134.6 kilograms per capita. This places Belgrade at the top of the list of European cities in terms of the amount of food waste generated when compared to other cities according to the UNEP Food Waste Index Report.
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About the project: These two researches were conducted following the methodology of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for measuring the global food waste index, during September and October 2021, and will be the starting point for all future research in this area. The research was conducted with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme, within the project "Build Back Better: Using Green and Digital Technologies to Reduce Food Waste at Consumer Level".
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Press Release
23 February 2022
UNICEF Serbia and Viber join forces in an anti-bullying campaign
Belgrade, 23 February 2022 – To mark the International Day Against Peer Violence, UNICEF Serbia is launching a new free package of U-Report Viber stickers - Stop Violence!
Download the stickers from here -> https://stickers.viber.com/pages/unicef_2022 and join U-Report on Viber where you voice your opinion on important issues in an accessible way.
The International Day Against Peer Violence is marked every year, on the last Wednesday in February, and is known as Pink T-shirt Day.
Pink T-shirt day came about when a boy from Canada was verbally and physically bullied by his friends because he came to school wearing a pink T-shirt to support his mother who had breast cancer. Local activists bought 50 pink T-shirts and handed them out to his school peers who wore them to support the boy. Children then started coming to school in pink T-shirts, which thus became a symbol of the fight against peer violence in schools around the world.
Marking this day aims to promote empathy, respect for diversity and tolerance. Peer violence is a general social problem that many children face, and prevention is crucial.
If you are a witness or a victim of violence, you can contact the following contact the National Children's Line of Serbia - 116111 or via https://cuvamte.gov.rs/#
If you are a parent, call the toll-free number of the NADEL Parent Line 0800 007 000, which is available every day from 4 pm to 10 pm.
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Press Release
24 February 2022
UNODC holds the 2nd Steering Committee meeting on the EU-UNODC joint action on enhanced border control
The initiative is aimed at enhancing the capacities of authorities in the Western Balkans to fight organized crime, by supporting more effective and coordinated responses to illicit trafficking by border law enforcement at land and port border crossing points and international airports in the region. The action is funded by the European Union (EU) and is implemented by the UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme (CCP) and the UNODC-WCO-INTERPOL Airport Communication Project (AIRCOP) in cooperation with the UNODC Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe.
Specifically, UNODC is working on the establishment of joint airport inter-agency groups composed of an AIRCOP Joint Airport Interdiction Task Force (JAITF) and a CCP Air Cargo Control Unit (ACCU) to cover both cargo and passenger threats as well as providing continuous technical assistance to the existing Port Control Units (PCUs) established by CCP.
The action’s main stakeholders were convened to the event, including senior representatives from the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), EU delegations and the Government authorities in the region as well as UNODC along with WCO and INTERPOL.
The UNODC Chief of the Regional Section for Europe, West and Central Asia and Regional Representative for South Eastern Europe opened the event and highlighted that “international commitment and cooperation is an investment in our shared vision of the future and if we have learnt anything from the pandemic it is from the numerous examples globally of how acting together we are stronger and can tackle the greatest of threats.” He pursued with pointing out the challenges still faced by South Eastern Europe while underlining the importance of national ownership in UNODC work in the region.
The Head of Sector Rule of Law, Security, Migration and Reconciliation at DG NEAR stressed in her statement that “regional cooperation is at the heart of what EU membership entails” and expressed appreciation on the strategic partnership with UNODC and the hope that “the positive trend will continue and will be strengthened”.
The event followed with interventions from UNODC representatives stating the importance of continuing efforts in addressing both cargo and passenger related threats while reminding on the objectives of the action. Subsequently, the Governments’ authorities from the region provided a status update on activities within the action, progress and the next steps, particularly on the establishment of the joint inter-agency groups.
A special session was dedicated to gender mainstreaming, and the necessary efforts in this direction. CCP presented its Women’s Network, its objectives, what is being done to support the women working in CCP units, including raising awareness on the issue and creating tools for women to be able to exchange on the challenges they face and the need to have more gender mainstreaming activities. CCP also mentioned a study on representation of women in the Customs Administrations of the region currently conducted within the action, which is intended to collect qualitative and quantitative data on women’s representation in the relevant agencies and provide tailored recommendations. Similarly, AIRCOP presented its initiatives to promote gender related policies and activities, including the “Series of Portraits” initiative which gives more visibility to women in law enforcement. The AIRCOP representative also mentioned the benefits of women being part of the inter-agency groups from an operational perspective, and announced the introduction of a mandatory training focusing on gender within the inter-agency groups to mitigate potential weaknesses caused by the lack of women in key posts.
The first day sessions concluded with the review of the workplan for 2022 and its endorsement and adoption by all the participants. This was followed by an overview of the communication and visibility activities within the action.
The second day focused on the practical elements of cooperation such as the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as well as inter-agency cooperation illustrated with case studies presented by CCP and AIRCOP. The value of the Steering Committee meeting was also underlined through discussions among the authorities present in the room.
The action’s Steering Committee is aimed at providing specific guidance and support to the action as it allows for all the stakeholders to meet and discuss key issues aimed at reviewing the progress of the action and deciding on future undertakings. In doing so, the national ownership of the governments in the region is ensured leading to greater coordination and coherence in the action implementation.
For more information:
https://www.unodc.org/southeasterneurope/en/border-control-action-resources.html
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