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08 May 2024
CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Youth Advocates
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07 May 2024
SADC and IOM convene Strategic meeting on Migration Reporting
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07 May 2024
Nelson Muffuh speech for the Legislative Oversight Summit 2024
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The Sustainable Development Goals in South Africa
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 South Africa:
Story
04 October 2023
Women owning the ‘menstrual economy’: South African entrepreneur changing lives through a thriving sanitary pads manufacturing venture
Over the past few years, there have been concerted efforts to lift the veil on the taboo and stigma around menstrual hygiene. Not only have there been calls for sanitary products to be freely available but there have been conversations around who owns the means of production of these essential products.
Lindiwe Nkuna-Kgopa, 40, started thinking about putting her ring in the hat of what she calls the menstrual economy in 2015 after following these conversations and realized that in South Africa there were no women-owned, large-scale, manufacturers of sanitary products that can compete with the big suppliers. This was the start of Lindiwe Sanitary Pads which today not only sells to individual customers but supplies the South African government’s National Sanitary Dignity Programme in four provinces. In 2022 alone Lindiwe Sanitary Pads reached 10 000 girls, supplying them with a year’s supply of sanitary pads through the government’s programme, combatting period poverty. “When I started Lindiwe Sanitary Pads I felt it was unfair that women are only end-users of sanitary pads and decided we needed to be active in the menstrual economy. We need to be part of the entire value chain. Menstruation is a huge economy and it’s interesting that with all the taboos and stigma that have existed around menstruation, when it comes to the boardroom where the rands and cents are counted, suddenly men can talk about periods and get involved in the manufacturing and selling of pads,” says Nkuna-Kgopa. “Initially when I approached funders they’d turn down my applications because they said I didn’t have a manufacturing background. I had never even set foot in a factory! So they’d said ‘you don’t have the technical know-how. You are unbankable!’’ she says. An entrepreneur at heart, having previously dabbled in marketing and accounting, Nkuna-Kgopa took the rejection in her stride and decided to build the profile of a reputable sanitary pads manufacturer. When Lindiwe Sanitary pads started in 2018 the business focused on branding, packaging, and distributing sanitary pads purchased from an external manufacturer. But what the entrepreneur quickly learned is that being product-ready and having greater access to markets is costly and requires knowledge. UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), supported by NAMA Women Advancement, implemented a series of business coaching and mentoring workshops that equipped Nkuna-Kgopa and other businesswomen with the essential skills for running profitable and sustainable businesses. She is also one of the entrepreneurs on UN Women’s Buy From Women platform, which links clients who want to procure from women-owned entrepreneurs with such suppliers. “The process for getting your product ready, running it through the necessary tests, and meeting potential big clients is quite expensive. For example, traveling to meet a potential big client in Cape Town, at your own expense, is quite demanding. That’s why the programs run by UN Women for women entrepreneurs are invaluable. They trained us then put us in spaces where we can create linkages with market-potentials and eventually take advantage ,’’ says Nkuna-Kgopa. She was one of the women entrepreneurs sponsored by UN Women SAMCO through NAMA Women Advancement’s support, to attend the Africa Women in Trade Conference and Expo in Cape Town in 2022. This is where Nkuna-Kgopa met a contact who introduced her to a major client that not only bought a large supply of Lindiwe Sanitary Pads products but will also be pushing out the products into the rest of the African continent. Additionally, the contact enabled her to meet clients who took an interest in the business and provided letters of intent that have unlocked funding for Lindiwe Sanitary Pads to build a 3 500sqm factory. Additionally, her business is in the process of procuring what will be South Africa’s second-largest sanitary pads manufacturing machine which will produce 850 units per minute. Lindiwe Sanitary Pads currently employs 92 women in its peak seasons and 16 women in the quieter production periods. Nkuna-Kgopa highlights that automating the manufacturing process will not kill these jobs but grow the company’s output and revenue, allowing these women to be more securely and sustainably employed in other areas of the company. The machine is much-needed as the business expands its reach from supplying wholesalers and independent pharmacies to supplying two major retailers ’house brands. UN Women SAMCO has partnered with the South Africa Department of Women, Youth, and People with Disabilities to enhance the capacity of women-owned enterprises in the Sanitary Dignity value chain. The Sanitary Dignity Implementation Framework (SDIF) aims to ensure dignified menstruation management while promoting women’s economic empowerment.
Lindiwe Nkuna-Kgopa, 40, started thinking about putting her ring in the hat of what she calls the menstrual economy in 2015 after following these conversations and realized that in South Africa there were no women-owned, large-scale, manufacturers of sanitary products that can compete with the big suppliers. This was the start of Lindiwe Sanitary Pads which today not only sells to individual customers but supplies the South African government’s National Sanitary Dignity Programme in four provinces. In 2022 alone Lindiwe Sanitary Pads reached 10 000 girls, supplying them with a year’s supply of sanitary pads through the government’s programme, combatting period poverty. “When I started Lindiwe Sanitary Pads I felt it was unfair that women are only end-users of sanitary pads and decided we needed to be active in the menstrual economy. We need to be part of the entire value chain. Menstruation is a huge economy and it’s interesting that with all the taboos and stigma that have existed around menstruation, when it comes to the boardroom where the rands and cents are counted, suddenly men can talk about periods and get involved in the manufacturing and selling of pads,” says Nkuna-Kgopa. “Initially when I approached funders they’d turn down my applications because they said I didn’t have a manufacturing background. I had never even set foot in a factory! So they’d said ‘you don’t have the technical know-how. You are unbankable!’’ she says. An entrepreneur at heart, having previously dabbled in marketing and accounting, Nkuna-Kgopa took the rejection in her stride and decided to build the profile of a reputable sanitary pads manufacturer. When Lindiwe Sanitary pads started in 2018 the business focused on branding, packaging, and distributing sanitary pads purchased from an external manufacturer. But what the entrepreneur quickly learned is that being product-ready and having greater access to markets is costly and requires knowledge. UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), supported by NAMA Women Advancement, implemented a series of business coaching and mentoring workshops that equipped Nkuna-Kgopa and other businesswomen with the essential skills for running profitable and sustainable businesses. She is also one of the entrepreneurs on UN Women’s Buy From Women platform, which links clients who want to procure from women-owned entrepreneurs with such suppliers. “The process for getting your product ready, running it through the necessary tests, and meeting potential big clients is quite expensive. For example, traveling to meet a potential big client in Cape Town, at your own expense, is quite demanding. That’s why the programs run by UN Women for women entrepreneurs are invaluable. They trained us then put us in spaces where we can create linkages with market-potentials and eventually take advantage ,’’ says Nkuna-Kgopa. She was one of the women entrepreneurs sponsored by UN Women SAMCO through NAMA Women Advancement’s support, to attend the Africa Women in Trade Conference and Expo in Cape Town in 2022. This is where Nkuna-Kgopa met a contact who introduced her to a major client that not only bought a large supply of Lindiwe Sanitary Pads products but will also be pushing out the products into the rest of the African continent. Additionally, the contact enabled her to meet clients who took an interest in the business and provided letters of intent that have unlocked funding for Lindiwe Sanitary Pads to build a 3 500sqm factory. Additionally, her business is in the process of procuring what will be South Africa’s second-largest sanitary pads manufacturing machine which will produce 850 units per minute. Lindiwe Sanitary Pads currently employs 92 women in its peak seasons and 16 women in the quieter production periods. Nkuna-Kgopa highlights that automating the manufacturing process will not kill these jobs but grow the company’s output and revenue, allowing these women to be more securely and sustainably employed in other areas of the company. The machine is much-needed as the business expands its reach from supplying wholesalers and independent pharmacies to supplying two major retailers ’house brands. UN Women SAMCO has partnered with the South Africa Department of Women, Youth, and People with Disabilities to enhance the capacity of women-owned enterprises in the Sanitary Dignity value chain. The Sanitary Dignity Implementation Framework (SDIF) aims to ensure dignified menstruation management while promoting women’s economic empowerment.
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20 September 2023
We have a duty to leave no one behind, South African President tells world leaders
“Over millennia, the human race has demonstrated an enormous capacity for resilience, adaptation, innovation, compassion and solidarity … these qualities must be evident in how we work together as a global community and as nations of the world to end war and conflict,” he said.
He urged the international community to invest in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, and supported Secretary-General António Guterres’ call for sustainable and predictable financing for peacebuilding efforts.
He also expressed concern about unconstitutional changes of government in parts of Africa and stressed the need for collaboration with the African Union to support peace efforts across the continent.
Empower women
President Ramaphosa also highlighted the importance of empowering women, advocating for gender equality and equal access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities.
Noting that women represented 50 per cent of South Africa’s cabinet, and that he was being accompanied at the General Assembly this year by an all-women delegation, he called for greater female representation on the global stage.
He also voiced concerns over rising global temperatures, noting that 17 of world’s “climate hotspots” were in Africa.
“Africa is least responsible for the climate damage that has been caused, yet it bears the greatest burden,” he said, calling on world leaders to accelerate decarbonization while pursuing shared prosperity.
Security Council reform
President Ramaphosa also highlighted the need for inclusive, democratic, and representative international institutions.
“The recently held BRICS summit in Johannesburg also affirmed the voice that the UN Security Council should be reformed and ensure that those nations that are not represented must be represented,” he said, referring to the recent meeting held by his country alongside Russia, India and China.
Concluding his remarks, the South African leader urged all nations to demonstrated that “we have the both the will and the resolve” to secure a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future for our world and more importantly, for the generations that will follow.
“Leaving no one behind – that is the duty that we all have,” he said, recalling the guiding promise made by the international community with the adoption in 2015 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
FULL STATEMENT HERE
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12 January 2024
GAZA: South Africa levels accusations of ‘genocidal conduct’ against Israel at world court
The development came amid the ongoing and massive Israeli bombardment across the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas-led terror attacks on 7 October that left some 1,200 Israeli and foreign nationals dead in southern Israel and some 250 taken hostage.
Laying out their case, the South African legal team told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague that Israel had demonstrated a “pattern of genocidal conduct” since launching its full-scale war in Gaza, the 365 square kilometre strip of land it has occupied since 1967.
“This killing is nothing short of destruction of Palestinian life. It is inflicted deliberately, no-one is spared, not even newborn babies,” the court heard.
Unprecedented violence
Israel’s actions had subjected the 2.3 million people of Gaza to an unprecedented level of attacks from the air, land and sea, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians and the destruction of homes and essential public infrastructure, insisted Adila Hassim.
Israel had also prevented sufficient humanitarian aid from reaching those in need and created the risk of death by starvation and disease because of the impossibility of providing assistance “while bombs fall”, the South Africa lawyer alleged.
“Palestinians in Gaza are subject to relentless bombing wherever they go,” Ms. Hassim told the court, adding that so many people had been killed that they were often buried unidentified in mass graves. An additional 60,000 Palestinians had been wounded and maimed, she noted.
“They are killed in their homes, in places where they seek shelter, in hospitals, in schools, in mosques, in churches, and as they tried to find food and water for their families. They have been killed if they have failed to evacuate the places to which they have fled and even if they attempted to flee along Israeli-declared safe routes.”
As part of its claim against Israel, South Africa alleges that 6,000 bombs hit Gaza in the first week of the Israeli response to the Hamas-led attacks. This included the use of 2,000-pound bombs at least 200 times “in southern areas of the Strip that were designated as safe”, and in the north, where refugee camps were located, Ms. Hassim said.
These weapons were “some of the biggest and most destructive bombs available”, she maintained, adding that genocides “are never declared in advance, but this court has the benefit of the past 13 weeks of evidence that shows incontrovertibly a pattern of conduct and related intention that justifies a plausible claim of genocidal acts”.
Convention’s obligations
It was because of these actions that Israel had contravened the Genocide Convention, the ICJ judges later heard, in reference to the global treaty inked by Members of the United Nations after the Second World War to prevent crimes against humanity.
The Convention was “dedicated to saving humanity”, insisted John Dugard, also representing South Africa, and all countries that had signed up to the Convention “are obliged not only to desist from genocidal acts but also to prevent them”, he maintained.
The hearing continues on Friday with the Israeli presentation.
Rights chief Türk rejects ‘blood libel’
In a related development, the UN’s top human rights official has defended criticism of the invasion of Gaza, saying that it is “not antisemitic” to call out “gross violations” of international humanitarian law.
Writing in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Wednesday, Volker Türk once again strongly condemned “the shocking cruelty of the attack launched from Gaza by Hamas and other armed groups on October 7”.
The massacres that ensued created “intense and continuing trauma" across Israel”, the UN rights chief continued, before insisting that the country’s “campaign of overwhelming force” had been “tainted by grave breaches of international law”.
Rocket fire from Gaza into Israel has also continued, Mr. Türk noted, before expressing regret that some Israeli officials had tried to discredit his Office’s concerns by claiming that they constitute "blood libel".
“It is not a blood libel to deplore the failure to hold to account Israeli soldiers and armed settlers who have killed hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7, or the prolongation of a war whose conduct has raised grave international humanitarian and human rights law concerns,” the UN rights chief stressed.
Diplomacy continues in New York
And diplomats at UN Headquarters in New York continue to seek more consensus over the Israel-Palestine crisis, passing a resolution in the Security Council Thursday night aimed at containing the spillover from the Gaza war.
Ambassadors demanded that Houthi rebels on the Red Sea coast of Yemen end their attacks on international shipping, which the rebels say are in support of Palestinians and Hamas militants.
And on Friday afternoon, a meeting of the Security Council is due to take place to discuss concerns over the potential forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, at the request of new Council member, Algeria.
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Press Release
28 August 2023
Uniting Against Hate: UN South Africa and partners join forces to combat Hate Speech
JOHANNESBURG, 22 June, 2023 – The United Nations in South Africa in partnership with the Apartheid Museum, the Desmond Tutu Foundation and the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre, Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) hosted a panel discussion and a training workshop on hate speech and mis/disinformation to commemorate the International Day for Countering Hate Speech. The overall goal of the event was to bring awareness to and discuss hate speech and mis/disinformation as well as to equip participants with knowledge and practical skills on how to address these ills online.
In his speech, Mr. Nelson Muffuh, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in South Africa, emphasized the UN's commitment to “upholding the principles of human rights, non-discrimination and the right of every individual to be treated with respect and dignity regardless of their nationality, race, religion, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation. These are precisely the principles and rights that hate speech seeks to suppress.”
Mr. Muffuh also stressed that countering hate speech is a moral obligation that falls on all of us, whether we are government authorities, civil society organizations, the private sector, the media, youth, traditional and customary leaders, or simply individuals. He added that hate speech has a devastating impact on social cohesion, human relations, and safety, and that we must do everything in our power to combat it.
Speaking on a panel, Abigail Noko, Regional Representative for Southern Africa, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) called for collective efforts towards building positive jurisprudence, saying that states have a mandate to safeguard human rights and must be liable to address incitement of racial discrimination and tackle hate speech.
Janet Jobson, Chief Executive Officer, Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, in her message of support called for vigilance around misinformation and disinformation, as hate speech is becoming more prevalent in our society. “We must ensure that we do not fall into the logic of hatred and must not let hatred stand unchallenged. Our humanity is fundamentally bound up with each other and, we must counter hate speech whenever and wherever we encounter it,” said Ms. Jobson.
William Bird, Director of Media Monitoring Africa, also weighed in on the subject and the event saying, “Hate speech doesn’t just cause harm, it incites violence and undermines democracy. We commemorate the International Day for Countering Hate Speech recognizing our recent past, aware that some still seek to use hate speech to silence, bully, denigrate and rob people of their dignity. We all have a responsibility to combat and call out hate speech, but just what is it and how can we do so? Join us as we hear from experts and launch our course to empower the public to act against hate speech online.”
The panellist included Tali Nates, Director, Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre, Ben Winks, Independent Advocate and Thandi Smith, Head of Programmes, Media Monitoring Africa and focused on “Understanding hate speech from a legal standpoint, its impact on victims and their human rights and, strategies being employed to combat the scourge.”
The participants also had a chance for some insight and messages from Alice Nderitu, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Janet Jobson, CEO of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation and Honourable Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Soono, African Commission on Human and People’s Rights Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa.
MMA also launched a programme on hate speech training. Dubbed Hate Speech Spotters Programme (HSSP). The goal is to bring awareness to hate speech, its impact on victims/target groups online, as well as how and why spreading such content is harmful and hurtful. The HSSP is designed for both those who have disseminated or are purveyors of online harms.
For media enquiries please contact: Eunice Namugwe, UN Information Centre – Pretoria, Email: namugwe@un.org, Tel : +27 71 6828310
PHOTOS of event here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/uninsouthafrica/albums/72177720309219465
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18 September 2023
The vital role of Indigenous Languages in shaping informed and engaged communities through the Media
The United Nations in South Africa South, in collaboration with the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) and the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), recently hosted the inaugural Indigenous Languages and the Media seminar in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The diversity of languages spoken in South Africa is greatly influenced by indigenous languages. It is crucial for their preservation that the media use and promote them. Sadly, there has been a loss in the understanding and usage of indigenous languages, particularly among young people, and less usage of indigenous languages by the media. The seminar sought to discuss and resolve these problems by bringing together key players, such as PanSALB and well-known indigenous language practitioners and media personalities, in order to have open discussions and to start dialogues that could result in practical solutions after the seminar.
In his remarks, Mr. Tafirenyika highlighted the UN’s role and efforts through the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in saving indigenous languages around the world as well as the lessons learned thus far.
“The UN is therefore appealing to all South Africans, including the government, the business sector, the civil society and individuals to do everything in their power to protect and promote linguistic diversity. Such an approach will strengthen, not weaken, our collective cultural heritage. And I can’t but fail to notice that this conference is taking place in September, which is South Africa’s heritage month,” he said.
He told participants that one of the most effective ways to preserve indigenous languages was to develop effective mechanisms for advocacy and awareness campaigns. “This is where the role of our partners in the media becomes crucial. Let me take this opportunity to commend the SABC, the national public broadcaster, for running radio stations with programmes that are broadcast in all the 11 official languages of South Africa.”
The UNIC director urged the media to promote and protect linguistic diversity and form partnerships to preserve cultural diversity and respect traditional ways of life. Governments should enact laws to conserve indigenous languages, such as mobilizing funding, defending linguistic rights, and incorporating these languages into educational systems. He further emphasized that “education is the main instrument in our toolbox of language preservation”.
The necessity of information, which is key to participation in a democracy was highlighted by Professor Abiodun Salawu, a professor of Journalism, Communication, and Media Studies at the North West University, and Director of the research entity, Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA). The media has a role to inform the masses in a language they will understand, he said.
Prof. Salawu told his audience that the development of alternative media and the use of regional languages and creoles have been key factors in the evolution of participation issues, which are essential to democracy. He urged the media to take all the indigenous languages to platforms that the youth can relate with such as social media and reminded attendees that “indigenous language media still remain a potent vehicle for mobilizing people for positive (developmental) goals which include democracy.”
In his address, Lance Schultz, the PanSALB Chief Executive Officer called for the end to “social linguistic tribalism which is essentially a lack of respect for our indigenous languages. We must be intentional with how we communicate for an informed and engaged citizenry,” he added.
“The global decline of print media has negatively affected the development of indigenous languages. Therefore, the need to forge collaborative efforts between the media, parents, teachers and various other stakeholders to promote indigenous languages is now more pertinent than ever.”
The Treasurer-General of SANEF, Tshamano Makhadi, reaffirmed his organization’s commitment to serve the needs of community media and open opportunities for the development of indigenous languages in this sector and beyond. “This proactive stance not only strengthens the vital role of community media but also fosters inclusivity and cultural diversity, creating a richer tapestry of voices in our ever-evolving media landscape, he said, adding: “Through its steadfast efforts, SANEF paves the way for a more inclusive and vibrant media ecosystem, where indigenous languages can flourish, and communities can thrive.”
The recognition of the media's pivotal role in reaching diverse audiences underscores the importance of broadcasting in indigenous languages. As the current media landscape predominantly operates in English, there is an urgent imperative to document, educate, and fortify the usage of indigenous languages.
Embracing technology and fostering innovation becomes paramount in this endeavor, encompassing initiatives like translating books and dictionaries into indigenous languages and developing accessible mobile apps and online platforms. Moreover, the formulation of laws and policies, aligned with UN frameworks such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, becomes imperative to ensure the preservation and prosperity of indigenous languages for the betterment of all humanity. This multifaceted approach not only enriches people’s cultural fabric but also champions inclusivity and linguistic diversity in the global media landscape.
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20 March 2024
CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Youth Advocates
To complement the UN’s ongoing efforts to promote meaningful youth engagement and ensuring that young people are provided with the skills, knowledge and platforms to provide leadership in catalyzing the achievement of the SDGs the UN Youth Theme Group, South Africa is calling for nominations for youth leaders to participate in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Youth Advocates. Engaging youth actively in the design and development of interventions, programs, and policies not only enhances their effectiveness but also fosters the growth of their knowledge, skills, and leadership abilities. This approach further strengthens the capacity of organizations and entities to advocate for and advance youth development. The United Nations (UN) serves as a crucial source of protection and support for young people, providing a platform through which their needs can be addressed, their voices amplified, and their engagement advanced.Youth development and engagement are integral to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals, as well as other internationally agreed frameworks, and represent a central aspect of Security Council Resolutions 2250 (2015) and 2419 (2018). These resolutions recognize the significant and positive role young people play in realizing sustainable development goals.We are accepting nominations from all UN Agencies; Government Departments and Implementing Partners for two young people who have actively participated in youth development programmes and demonstrated exceptional leadership. The criteria is outlined in the Terms of Reference.Make your nomination submission using this form, CLICK HEREDeadline for submissions is 1 June 2024.
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25 April 2024
Living and striving for human rights for all: 30 years of SA Democracy
South Africa’s 30-year democratic journey is a powerful story; a tale woven with the threads sacrifice, dignity and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). In this celebratory year of the country’s own long walk to freedom, the UN Human Rights Regional Office for Southern Africa, spotlighted the profound connection between democracy and the UDHR with the #30for30 online campaign. #30for30 took place during March, Human Rights Month 2024. Through a series of daily tweets, the campaign underscored how each article of the UDHR resonates with key aspects of South Africa’s journey towards a more inclusive and equitable society. "We initiated the #30for30 campaign to highlight the enduring relevance of the UDHR in the context of South Africa's democratic evolution," said UN Human Rights Regional Representative Abigail Noko. "It is an opportunity to celebrate milestones while also acknowledging the work that lies ahead in upholding human rights for all." The UDHR underpins a great deal of the country’s democratic trappings. Much of the Constitution is based on the articles and it was a goal and guidebook for those seeking freedom and equality. Former President Nelson Mandela told the UN General Assembly (UNGA) the country’s democracy stood on the shoulders of the UDHR. “For those who had to fight for their emancipation, such as ourselves who, with your help, had to free ourselves from the criminal apartheid system, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights served as the vindication of the justice of our cause,” he said to the UNGA during 50th anniversary commemorations for the UDHR. “At the same time, it constituted a challenge to us that our freedom, once achieved, should be dedicated to the implementation of the perspectives contained in the Declaration.”Delving into the intersections between the UDHR and South African democracy reveals interesting parallels. One of the key principles of the UDHR is non-discrimination, which is enshrined in Article 2, which states “Everyone is entitled to the enjoyment of all Human Rights...without any distinction.” Non-discrimination is a fundamental aspect of human rights, ensuring that everyone is treated fairly and equally regardless of background. The #30for30 campaign linked the article with the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (PEPUDA), which South Africa passed in 2000. Similarly, Article 21 which states everyone has the right to take part in government and access public services, was linked to the country’s six successful national elections since 1994 in the campaign. "The UDHR is the leitmotif to South Africa’s bill of rights and constitutional democracy. It is a moral and visionary compass that guides our work to promote and protect human rights in the country," Noko said.As the nation celebrates 30 years of democracy and progress, it is important to acknowledge the challenges that still remain. Economic disparities persist and apartheid still casts a long shadow in many areas including education and social inclusion. But the UDHR is still the blueprint for the way forward – with the solutions to the challenges in standing up for the human rights of everyone everywhere. Want to learn more about the UDHR? Please go to our website: www.ohchr.org. And check out the #30for30 campaign and other human rights content by following us on Twitter/XLike what you see? The #30for30 graphic accompanying this story is available as a commemorative poster. You can download it here: https://bit.ly/4aMtF80
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22 April 2024
30 years on, South Africa still dismantling racism and apartheid’s legacy
Rethabile Ratsomo said it’s the little things that remind her of her perceived “place” in South African society. There are the verbal slights and side-eye in workspaces, where she’s been viewed as a B-BBEE hire (The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment programme in South African that seeks to advance and transform the participation of black people in the country’s economy) and therefore not capable of doing the work. There are the passive-aggressive comments from colleagues, constantly complimenting her on how well she speaks English. She has lived through the daily microaggressions that form part of her life. “I am a born-free and despite being born after the advent of democracy in South Africa, my race continues to play a huge role in my being, as a South African,” Ratsomo said, 29, who currently works at the Anti-Racism Network and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. “Many people continue to normalise racial discrimination and perpetuate harmful behaviours. Racism remains rife.” Thirty years since the end of Apartheid, South Africa still grapples with its legacy. Unequal access to education, segregated communities and massive economic disparities persists, much of it is reinforced by existing institutions and attitudes. How is it that racism and its accompanying discrimination continues to hold such sway in this, majority Black populated and Black governed nation? Racism has deep roots in the economic, spatial and social fabric of this country. It reflects the legacy of oppression and subjugation from apartheid and colonialism. While progress has been made to eliminate the scourge of racism it requires everyone to do their part for it be eliminated, said Abigail Noko, Representative for UN Human Rights Regional Office of Southern Africa (OHCHR ROSA)“Dismantling such entrenched racist and discriminatory systems requires commitment, leadership, dialogue and advocacy to put in place anti-racist policies that implement human rights norms and provide a framework to help address and rectify these injustices and promote equality,” she added. Free your mind and the rest will follow The project of dismantling racist systems in a place like South Africa, must go hand in hand with the process of decolonization – both at an institutional and an individual level, said Professor Tshepo Madlingozi, a Commissioner at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). “History has shown that unless you have decolonized your mind, you are going to step into the shoes of the oppressor and oppress other people over and over again,” he said. Madlingozi’s comments were part of a panel discussion on dismantling racist systems in South Africa, which took place during the Human Rights Festival in Johannesburg in March, which aligns with national Human Rights Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The discussion, sponsored by OHCHR ROSA, had three panelists providing their answers to the overarching question, how can racism present in the “rainbow nation” be dismantled to bring about freedom, equality, and justice for all? Samkelo Mkhomi, a social justice and equality activist in her 20s, agreed that an internal mindset change was needed, especially among young people. She said she noticed that many of her born-free peers, i.e., someone who was born after the advent of democracy in South Africa, harbour suspicious and distrustful attitudes toward other races. She mentioned a friend who has a distrust of all white people. When Mkhomi asked why, he told her “because of what they did in the past.” She called this deliberate lack of understanding among her peers as hereditary and a big stumbling block in moving forward. “We have set perceptions and stereotypes that we've inherited from family, from social experiences, experiences that are not our own,” Mkhomi said. “And we've used that as a blueprint to view other people. Once you can get rid of that as young people, I feel like we can start moving on and dismantling racism.”Madlingozi suggested one way to do this could be to not only focus on individual racist incidences, but also to bring more awareness, and push for policies in institutions that deconstruct current ways of working. “What matters is, have we dismantled the institutions, the cultures that perpetuate racism,” he said. “Because unless you do that, you’ll have Black people, you will have a Black government that will continue to perpetuate racism because that is the nature of institutionalised racism. So yes, let’s focus on individual human rights. Let’s focus on social justice, but where it matters the most is structural institutionalized oppression.” Casting a long shadowThe scars of Apartheid run deep, leaving a legacy of segregation, discrimination and inequality. This is evidenced by the stark economic disparities in the country. A 2022 World Bank report on inequality in southern Africa gave South Africa the unfortunate distinction of being the most unequal country in the world. The report stated that 80 percent of the country’s wealth was in the hands of 10 percent of the population. And it is the Black population who factor the most into the poorest category. The report places the blame for the income disparities directly on race. “The legacy of colonialism and Apartheid rooted in racial and spatial segregation continues to reinforce inequality,” the report states. The spatial divide mirrors the economic one. The evil genius of Apartheid was the segregation project, as it allowed the Government to not only separate people based on arbitrary categorizations, but through this create material differences between the communities to reinforce the idea of actual racial differences, said Tessa Dooms. These racial classifications also encouraged the idea that the different groups needed to compete for basic human rights, dignity and economic opportunities, she added. “The Apartheid government didn’t just give people categories, they gave real live material meaning to those categories,” said Dooms, Director of Programmes for Rivonia Circle during the panel discussion. “As long as those categories mean something in the world, we still have work to do, to undo Apartheid, to undo colonialism, to decolonize.” To do this, Dooms recommended practical vision as to what a decolonized South Africa would look like, being very specific about the results wanted. She also called on the privileged groups to do the heavy lifting of helping to create more equality. Until those with privileges work to broaden access to them, the cycle will continue, Dooms added. “We cannot leave creating a more just world to the people who are most affected by injustice,” she said. “It’s not fair, it’s not right and it won’t work.” Taking concrete action Globally, South Africa’s post-Apartheid long walk to freedom has garnered an international reputation as a leader in global efforts to combat racism. In 2001, South Africa hosted the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR), which resulted in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA). The DDPA is a roadmap, providing concrete measures for States to combat racism, discrimination and xenophobia and related intolerance. One of the big recommendations was to have each country create its own National Action Plan (NAP). The plan is a means through which governments locally codify their commitment to taking action, with concrete steps on how they will combat racism. South Africa launched its plan in 2019, with OHCHR ROSA providing technical assistance. This assistance took many forms including participation in the consultations that led up to the final NAP and helping to set up support structures for its implementation, and support for research and other work to help develop systems for data collection on issues related to the NAP. “Human rights play crucial role in dismantling racism by providing a framework for addressing and rectifying historical injustices, promoting equality, and ensuring that all individuals are treated fairly and with dignity,” Noko saidVarious other sectors have pioneered innovative approaches to chip away at Apartheid’s remnants. Corporate and governmental diversity programmes, such as B-BBEE, and the Employment Equity Amendment Bill of 2020, aim to promote diversity and equity in the workplace. Ratsomo of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation said these and other efforts to address the underlying issue of what to do about that still exists in the country are key to taking it down. Everyone must learn, speak up, and act on racism, racial discrimination and related intolerances, she said. “The beginning point to tackle and dismantle systemic racism is to understand that being anti-racist does not only mean being against racism,” she said. “It also means being active and speaking out against racism whenever you see it happen. The more we understand racism, the easier it becomes to identify when it happens, which allows us to speak out and act against it when we see it happening.”
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08 May 2024
mRNA Technology Transfer Programme moves to the next phase of its development
Over 200 international participants working with the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme met in Cape Town this week for their first face-to-face meeting. Joined by World Health Organization (WHO) Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Dr. Joe Phaahla, Minister of Health and Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Ebrahim Patel of South Africa together with high-level officials from funding countries, this unique meeting reviewed the progress since WHO and Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) launched it in June 2021.“I am delighted to be here in Cape Town with our partners to support a sustainable model for mRNA technology transfer to give low- and middle-income countries equitable access to vaccines and other lifesaving health products,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “I am immensely proud of the achievement of all those involved in this project; in less than two years we have shown that when we work collaboratively, we succeed collectively.”The meeting participants include biomanufacturing partners from 15 countries in the Programme, leading experts, industry, civil society representatives, and funders. During the five-day meeting, participants will share progress and discuss critical enablers for the sustainability of the Programme such as intellectual property issues and regulatory aspects, as well as the science of mRNA technologies and key applications relevant to LMICs in other disease areas such as HIV and tuberculosis.The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored that gross inequity exists in access to health products, especially vaccines. As of March 2023, more than three years after WHO declared COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), 69.7% of the global population had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Notably, this proportion still remains below 30% in low-income countries (LICs) .This Programme aims to contribute to equitable access to mRNA vaccines by increasing the distribution of sustainable manufacturing capacity across LMICs, enhancing regional and inter-regional collaborations, and developing and empowering a local workforce through tailored and inclusive training and expert support. What is unique in the mRNA Technology Transfer model is the multilateral process that allows sharing of technologies to multiple recipients so that through local and regional production those in need can be reached rapidly.Dr Phaahla, Minister of Health South Africa, said: “What we see here today, is a moment in history, a Programme that is aimed at empowering LMICs through a global collaborative network. I am thrilled to see the progress made in such a relatively short time and welcome the support from so many different countries - countries like South Africa that have a strong vibrant biomanufacturing capacity and that are willing to work together, learn from and share with each other.”Minister Blade Nzimande of Higher Education and Science, said: “Ours is the vision of the mRNA Technology Transfer Hub beyond just COVID-19. The capabilities we are building are looking to empower us to deal with other future pandemics whose vaccines could use the same mRNA technology platform. It is a vision that has set its eyes on diseases that are prevalent in our environments such as Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV and AIDS.”This occasion also marks an important milestone for the Programme with the inauguration of the mRNA technology Hub facility at Afrigen in Cape Town in the presence of Dr. Tedros and Dr. Matshidiso Moeti WHO Regional Director for Africa, Charles Gore Executive Director of MPP and the Honorable Ministers who took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony at Afrigen.Professor Petro Terblanche, Executive Director of Afrigen said: “The entire Afrigen team are thrilled to reach this important milestone with the completion of the mRNA technology platform. This platform is housed within the end-to-end mRNA vaccine development and production facility where the mRNA Hub Covid 19 vaccine candidate AfriVac 2121 is currently in scale-up phase. Over the last 18 months, Afrigen has undergone an incredible transformation with the support of a network of partners and mentors enabled by this Programme. We have grown our capability and capacity to meet the highest quality standards of mRNA vaccine development, serving the objective to build sustainable capacity in LMICs to produce mRNA vaccines”.Afrigen has successfully established a COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing process at a laboratory scale and is currently scaling up that process to a level suitable for manufacturing vaccine batches to be used in Phase I/ II clinical trials to GMP standards. In a parallel process, Afrigen will continue to carry out training and technology transfer to the network partners.The funders play a crucial role in supporting the Programme with total funding to date at US$ 117 million and France being the first to fund the mRNA technology transfer work. Present at the meeting were representatives from the European Commission, Belgium, Germany, as well as Norway, Canada, African Union, South Africa, and the ELMA Foundation.Caroline Delany, GlobalAffairs Canada’s Director General for Southern and Eastern Africa said: “Canada reaffirms its continued support of the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme and we are delighted to announce a further contribution of 15 million Canadian dollars at the meeting today. This brings Canada’s total contribution to the Programme up to 45 million Canadian dollars. These funds support the running of the Hub in South Africa as well as network partners around the world. We firmly believe in the importance of building capacity at local and regional level”.Mr Martin Seychell, Deputy Executive Director European Commission, said. “The EC has already contributed €40 million to the establishment of the mRNA technology transfer Hub and has recently signed another grant with the EIB for €15,5 million to facilitate the expansion of vaccines manufacturing capacity. This is part of the overall investment under the EU Global Gateway strategy, where more than €1 Billion have been mobilised under the Team Europe Initiative on Manufacturing health products. It is now particularly important to also address possible regulatory and demand bottlenecks, to ensure not only production of vaccines of the highest standard in all regions of the world, but also rapid and equitable access to those vaccines.”1. https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations
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17 April 2024
Kwibuka 30 - “Remember, Unite, Renew”
This year marks the 30th anniversary since the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda took place. Every year in April, the world, the victims and survivors of the genocide take time to remember those who lost their lives. “Kwibuka” means “to Remember” in Rwanda’s Kinyarwanda language, which is a time of remembrance and reflection on the past and to ensure it never happens again. Speaking at the event organized to commemorate the day, the High Commissioner of Rwanda to South Africa, Emmanuel Hategeka, said, “Today, we come together under the theme ‘Remember, Unite, Renew.’ We remember the million lives lost, we unite in our resolve against genocide, and we renew our commitment to unity and peace.” As he spoke, the audience was transported back to 1994, to the heart-wrenching tragedy that unfolded in Rwanda. The loss of over one million innocent lives, a stark reminder of the depths to which humanity can sink. Yet, in the face of such darkness, the resilience of survivors shone through, a beacon of hope for the future.The High Commissioner’s speech was followed by a moment of silence, a collective reflection on the past and a commitment to a future free from such atrocities. The United Nations Information Centre Director, Masimba Tafirenyika, who delivered the UN Secretary-General’s message” on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator in South Africa, Nelson Muffuh, reminded the audience of the importance of peace by saying, “As we remember the million lives lost in the genocide, let their memory inspire us to build a world of understanding and peace. Their spirits urge us to move forward towards unity, compassion, and the strength to prevent such darkness from ever returning. Together, we honour them by forging a brighter future, a renewal.” In his message, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “We can draw a straight line between the senseless slaughter of one million Tutsi — as well as some Hutu and others who opposed the genocide — and the decades of hate speech that preceded it, enflamed by ethnic tensions and the long shadow of colonialism". The event concluded with a call to action, urging everyone to learn more about the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and the significance of Kwibuka30. As the attendees left the venue, they carried with them a renewed sense of purpose, a commitment to remember the past, celebrate the progress made, and look forward with hope and determination.
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Press Release
07 May 2024
SADC and IOM convene Strategic meeting on Migration Reporting
Livingstone, Zambia - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are jointly hosting a strategic meeting of Heads of Immigration, Labour Commissioners and Statisticians-General on realignment of the SADC Regional Migration Policy Framework (RMPF) and Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) reporting.Kicking off on May 6, 2024, in Livingstone, Zambia, the meeting aims to enhance the migration governance in the SADC region. The meeting is funded, respectively, by the European Union and the United States of America through the Southern Africa Migration Management (SAMM) project and the Africa Regional Migration Program (ARMP).”Reliable data allows for the inclusion of all migrants in policy making as comprehensive, disaggregated data helps policymakers to develop sound, evidence-based policies ensuring that no migrant is left behind, especially the most vulnerable ones”, stated Prof. Kula I. Theletsane, SADC Director of the Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Affairs.The meeting's collaborative nature encourages knowledge exchange, best practice sharing, and partnership building among officials from Labour ministries, Immigration departments and National Statistics Offices. By fostering a unified and cohesive approach to migration governance, SADC and IOM aim to enhance data quality, completeness, and consistency across the region.”The key challenge is to find the right policies and processes to facilitate migration and protect the rights of migrants, irrespective of their status, and transform migration into a win-win situation for the SADC member states”, said Mr. Mati Hashemee, IOM Regional Director for Southern Africa.In the course of the meeting, governments will be examining GCM matrix reports, discussing data quality and challenges, and preparing presentations to identify areas for improvement and establish mechanisms for enhancing future reporting efforts.This joint undertaking between SADC and IOM underscores the commitment of both partners to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration in the region. By working together, SADC and IOM seek to advance migration management practices to support regional development, integration, and peace and security.*****For media inquiries, please contact:IOM Regional Office Communication: Abibo Ngandu, angandu@iom.int
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Press Release
29 April 2024
Secretary-General’s initiative aims to build trust through global guiding principles
New York, 26 April 2024 -- With ever-growing needs for minerals that are critical for renewable energy technologies, Secretary-General António Guterres is leveraging the United Nations’ convening power to bring together a diverse group of governments and other stakeholders across the entire minerals value chain to develop a set of global common and voluntary principles to safeguard environmental and social standards and embed justice, in the energy transition. A newly established Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals -- co-chaired by Ambassador Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko of South Africa and Director-General for Energy Ditte Juul Jørgensen of the European Commission -- will address issues relating to equity, transparency, investment, sustainability and human rights. “A world powered by renewables is a world hungry for critical minerals,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the launch of the Panel. “For developing countries, critical minerals are a critical opportunity -- to create jobs, diversify economies, and dramatically boost revenues. But only if they are managed properly. The race to net zero cannot trample over the poor. The renewables revolution is happening – but we must guide it towards justice.” “In establishing the Panel, the UN Secretary-General is commendably responding to a normative gap identified by many countries, especially developing countries, related to critical minerals and rare earths required for sustainable development and just transitions,” Ambassador Mxakato-Diseko said. “The objective of the Panel, aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations Framework Agreement on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement, is to build trust and certainty towards harnessing the potential of these minerals to be utilized to unlock shared prosperity, leaving no one and no place behind”. Director-General for Energy Ditte Juul Jørgensen said, “the global energy goals we all agreed at COP28 require a rapid scale-up in the manufacturing and deployment of renewables globally and critical energy transition minerals. I am honored to have been asked by the UN Secretary-General to co-chair this panel and help develop principles to ensure a fair and transparent approach globally and for local communities in the entire value chain, – upholding the highest sustainability and human development standards.” Limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, to avert the worst impacts of climate change, will depend on the sufficient, reliable and affordable supply of critical energy transition minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements, which are essential components of clean energy technologies – from wind turbines and solar panels to electric vehicles and battery storage. At COP28, governments agreed to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030. There is no pathway to achieving this goal without a significant increase of supply of critical energy transition minerals. According to the International Energy Agency, mineral demand for clean energy applications is set to grow by three and a half times by 2030 on the pathway to reaching global net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. Developing countries with large reserves of critical energy transition minerals have an opportunity to transform and diversify their economies, create green jobs, and foster sustainable local development. However, mineral resource development has not always met this promise. Increased demand for these minerals and their geographical concentration risk perpetuating commodity dependence, exacerbating geopolitical tensions and pose environmental and social challenges with adverse impacts on sustainable development including on livelihoods, the environment, health, human security and human rights. Responding to calls from developing countries for globally agreed guidance to ensure responsible, fair and just value chains, the UN-convened Panel brings together governments, intergovernmental and international organizations, industry, and civil society to build trust, guide the just transition and accelerate the race to renewables. The panel builds on existing UN initiatives, particularly the Working Group on Transforming the Extractive Industries for Sustainable Development and its flagship initiative on ‘Harnessing Critical Energy Transition Minerals for Sustainable Development’ and will draw from existing standards and initiatives to strengthen and consolidate existing efforts. List of panel members: Government and intergovernmental actors 1. African Union 2. Australia 3. Botswana 4. Brazil 5. Chile 6. China 7. Colombia 8. Democratic Republic of the Congo 9. Egypt 10. European Union 11. India 12. Indonesia 13. Japan 14. Kazakhstan 15. Namibia 16. South Africa 17. United Arab Emirates 18. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 19. United States of America 20. Viet Nam 21. Zambia 22. Zimbabwe Non-State Actors 23. Climate Action Network International 24. Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative 25. Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance 26. International Council on Mining and Metals 27. International Energy Agency 28. Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development 29. IndustriALL Global Union 30. International Renewable Energy Agency 31. Natural Resource Governance Institute 32. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development 33. Principles for Responsible Investment 34. United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 35. United Nations Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change 36. World Bank For more information: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/critical-minerals Media contacts: Tyrone Hall, Secretary-General’s Climate Action Team: tyrone.hall@un.org Martina Donlon, Department of Global Communications: donlon@un.org
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Press Release
08 March 2024
1 in every 10 women in the world lives in extreme poverty
On International Women’s Day, UN Women calls for the world to “Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress” as the best way to accelerate economic growth and build more prosperous, equitable societies.This is particularly urgent when war and crisis are eroding the achievements of decades of investments in gender equality. From the Middle East to Haiti, Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, women pay the biggest price for conflicts that are not of their making. The need for peace has never been more urgent.Climate change is accelerating persistent poverty gaps. As competition for scarce resources intensifies, livelihoods are threatened, societies become more polarized, and women bear an increasingly heavy burden:1 in every 10 women in the world lives in extreme poverty.The number of women and girls living in conflict-affected areas doubled since 2017, now, more than 614 million women and girls live in conflict-affected areas. In conflict areas, women are 7.7 times more likely to live in extreme poverty.Climate change is set to leave 236 million more women and girls hungry by 2030, twice as many as men (131 million).At prime working age, only 61 per cent of women are in the labour force versus 90 per cent of men.We cannot continue to miss out on the gender-equality dividend. More than 100 million women and girls could be lifted out of poverty if governments prioritized education and family planning, fair and equal wages, and expanded social benefits. Almost 300 million jobs could be created by 2035 through investments in care services, such as provision of daycare and elderly care. And closing gender employment gaps could boost gross domestic product per capita by 20 per cent across all regions.The current reality is far from this. Programmes dedicated to gender equality represent only 4 per cent of official development assistance. An additional USD 360 billion in developing countries is needed per year to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment. This is less than one fifth of the USD 2.2 trillion spent globally on military expenditure in 2022, for example.The areas needing investment are clear and understood. First and foremost there must be an investment in peace. Beyond this, the investments needed include: laws and policies that advance the rights of women and girls; transformation of social norms that pose barriers to gender equality; guaranteeing women’s access to land, property, health care, education, and decent work; and financing women’s groups networks at all levels.UN Women is also calling on Member States at the Commission on the Status of Women, starting in New York on 11 March 2024, to back up their commitments on gender equality with resources. The world’s leaders have this opportunity to develop concrete and progressive agreed conclusions that reflect the crucial need for financing gender equality, women’s empowerment, and women´s organizations. They must seize it for the sake of equality, our planet, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
UN Women is the global champion for gender equality, working to develop and uphold standards and create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential. We are trusted partners for advocates and decision-makers from all walks of life and a leader in the effort to achieve gender equality. For more information: unwomen.org. Local Media contact:
Maphuti Mahlaba
Communications Analyst
UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office
maphuti.mahlaba@unwomen.org
+27 65 742 4459
UN Women is the global champion for gender equality, working to develop and uphold standards and create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential. We are trusted partners for advocates and decision-makers from all walks of life and a leader in the effort to achieve gender equality. For more information: unwomen.org. Local Media contact:
Maphuti Mahlaba
Communications Analyst
UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office
maphuti.mahlaba@unwomen.org
+27 65 742 4459
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Press Release
07 March 2024
On International Women’s Day, UNAIDS calls for protecting women’s rights to protect their health
GENEVA, 6 March 2024— Ahead of International Women’s Day, celebrated on 8 March, UNAIDS is calling for the protection of women’s rights to protect their health.The world is way off track to meet the gender, equality and HIV targets that are part of the Sustainable Development Goals. At the current rate of progress, it will take an estimated 300 years to end child marriage, 140 years for women to be represented equally in positions of power and leadership in the workplace, and 47 years to achieve equal representation in national parliaments.In addition, around the world at least five women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their own family. One in three women worldwide experience sexual or gender-based violence.Women who experience violence are more at risk of acquiring HIV. This risk is heightened for the 600 million women and girls who live in the world’s conflict-affected countries, facing an increased danger of sexual violence. And in the majority of the world’s poorest countries, the debt crisis is squeezing out investment in education, health, and social protection, particularly hurting women and girls.Women are further threatened by the organized pushback against women’s rights. “Today, women’s hard-won rights are under a globally coordinated, ruthless attack. Those facing the most vicious attack are already the most marginalized women,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “The injustices faced by women are not natural disasters to prepare for, like hurricanes or storms. They are man-made, and, as such, we can unmake them.”The good news is that across the world, women and girls are leading struggles for equality and rights. Women are standing up against oppression in their homes, workplaces, and communities. Women’s movements are providing direct support to women and girls who face violence, and marching and striking for equality. To protect women’s rights, it is vital to support and resource these community organizations, civil society groups and women’s organizations—the frontline defenders of those rights.Like justice, health is never given, it is won.UNAIDS’ call this International Women’s Day, is to protect women and girls’ health, protect women and girls’ rights. In doing so, the world will end AIDS, and will overcome the inequalities driving it.______UNAIDSThe Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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Press Release
21 February 2024
Time to protect children from violence and save lives now
20 February 2024 - “Shocking levels of violence continue to destroy children’s lives across South Africa, with 285 children murdered and 2,707 surviving attempted murder, assault, or grievous bodily harm between October and December 2023.The latest quarterly South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics once again reveal the tragic and dangerous reality of life for far too many children. On average, thirty-three children are violently attacked each day and at least three of them will not survive.Despite the horror, the figures show a nearly 11 per cent decline in the number of child murders compared to the same three-month period in 2022 but an almost 12 per cent jump in violent assaults.In the last quarter of 2023, some 1,135 women were also murdered and more than 20,300 violently assaulted. Worryingly, the statistics only represent reported cases, and the real situation is likely to be far worse.This violence not only ends young lives and those of thousands of women and girls but has a devasting impact on families, communities, and the nation’s development.The latest statistics follow the release of the Committee on the Rights of the Child concluding observations on South Africa’s periodic child rights report. The Committee expressed concern over the high prevalence of all forms of violence against children and UNICEF welcomes their call to strengthen efforts to tackle the root causes and to eradicate violence against children.What this means is engaging all of society in the response. Research shows that we can reduce violence through committing and investing in interventions that work, from the home to school and into the community and work environment.This includes:Scaling-up parenting support to promote non-violent disciplinary techniques, improving mental wellbeing, and encouraging positive - as opposed to toxic -masculinity.Increasing investments in violence prevention and early intervention programming that can save lives.Training teachers and child and youth care workers to identify at risk children, while improving care for child survivors of violence.Putting into action the School Safety Framework and other initiatives to create a safer learning environment.The time to protect every woman, girl, and boy and to stop the killing is now. Without the safety and nurturing care children need to survive and thrive, society will bear the consequences of a cycle of violence and continued social and economic strain.Let’s mark the thirtieth year of South Africa’s democracy by respecting and realizing the rights of every child, so that the nation’s greatest resource – its children – can lead the country’s journey of development and progress over the coming three decades.”
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Latest Resources
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Resources
29 September 2023
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