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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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Story
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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Story
13 July 2021
FAQs on the United Nations-Government’s Partnership on District Development Model (DDM)
Why DDM is important?
Working together as partners, the districts of OR Tambo (Eastern Cape), Waterberg (Limpopo) and eThekwini (KwaZulu-Natal) as well as Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), the United Nations and other stakeholders have been able to identify bottlenecks to development that are affecting the efficient and effective delivery of services to local communities in the three districts.
As a response to these bottlenecks, the partners have developed the District Development Model (DDM) to address the challenges to effective and efficient service delivery caused by government sectors operating in silos, which have had negative impacts and lead to a lack of coherence in planning and implementation.
The silo approach to government delivery has also made it difficult to monitor and provide oversight to government’s programmes.
What are the key features of DDM?
The key component of the DDM is its ‘One Plan’ approach to local development. This approach is designed to incorporate public, private and civil society participation and investment in an effort to provide service delivery, localize procurement of goods and services and create jobs.
The DDM places more emphasis on the importance of local area planning to realize its goals. To achieve this, all spheres of government must work in an integrated manner to create efficiency in service delivery.
What will be the role of the UN implementing DDM?
It is important to emphasize that the three DDM pilot projects are not UN projects but projects that have been identified by local authorities as development priorities. The role of the UN in the DDM will be to provide support in their implementation through its competencies and comparative advantage in South Africa.
In implementing these projects, the UN will align them with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). The framework is the document that spells out the work of the UN in SA, focusing on the government’s development priorities.
The UN has developed plans on signature projects that will be implemented in the three districts in collaboration with COGTA and the local authorities. These plans are built on three interrelated pillars: Unlocking Economic Value Chains, Social Transformation and Service Delivery enhancement.
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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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Story
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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Story
07 December 2023
Putting children at the centre of climate action – every child’s right
Children’s bodies and minds are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. They need to be placed at the centre of climate action strategies at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework on Climate Change and beyond.
Children are the future” is an oft-referenced cliché. But it’s more than that because they are also the present. Children are living today’s realities and they will be the leaders of tomorrow, inheriting the planet that we, as adults, leave them.
Sadly, the current planetary trajectory is not a positive one.
The triple crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss is one of the greatest challenges of our generation, and we know that children already shoulder the greatest burden of its impact.
Children are not little adults. Their bodies and minds are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as pollution, deadly diseases and extreme weather.
Droughts, water scarcity, storms and flooding – all of which are prevalent in South Africa – severely affect child well-being. Environmental crises limit access to safe water and sanitation, nutritious food, education, health and protection services.
The climate crisis is not just changing the planet. It is changing children and it is a child rights crisis.
"Only 2.4% of global climate finance from key multilateral climate funds supports projects incorporating child-responsive activities."
That’s why, as world leaders, UN colleagues, civil society, the private sector and many others gather in Dubai for the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework on Climate Change (COP28), children and young people must be at the centre of these discussions and actions.
But what does that mean?
Meaningful child participation in policy development that shapes decisions is an important and positive place to start. Children and young people in South Africa and globally are rightly not willing to be passive bystanders when their lives are already being impacted by climate change and environmental degradation.
A Unicef South Africa U-Report poll, conducted in August 2023, revealed that 70% of children and young people surveyed are confident that they can influence policies to respond to their specific needs. Children are driving attention to climate and environmental crises and pushing for action. This momentum was behind the motivation to draft and publish General Comment No 26 on Children’s Rights and the Environment with a Special Focus on Climate Change in August.
The document may sound technical but it’s a critical and practical step forward. For the first time, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has explicitly affirmed children’s right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. It provides authoritative guidance to states on what they must do to uphold these rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In the face of the deepening climate crisis and as the world commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December, this is needed more than ever.
This process was not a top-down effort. More than 16,300 children from 121 countries shared their views and ideas to shape the document. “I would like to tell them [adults] that we are the future generations and if you destroy the planet, where will we live?” are the words of a 13-year-old boy from India who took part in the consultations.
Practically, General Comment 26 stipulates key actions that governments must take to ensure every child grows up in a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. This includes keeping their promises to limit the warming of the planet. It requires including children in the development of adaptation plans, decisions and solutions, and better protecting children who are experiencing the effects of climate change. For example, strengthening school buildings and water and sanitation systems against storms, flooding and other weather extremes.
In addition, child rights impact assessments, improving access to justice – such as solutions, support and compensation for the harm children are exposed to – and committing to international cooperation, given that environmental problems do not stop at a country’s border, are all obligations laid out.
"A clean, healthy and sustainable environment is both a human right and a necessary foundation for the full enjoyment of a broad range of children’s rights."
Businesses also have the responsibility to respect children’s rights in relation to the environment. That’s why Unicef South Africa and OHCHR Southern Africa engaged with corporates on Comment 26 at a CEO Network Meeting in September 2023. Opening dialogue with leading business minds in South Africa is an essential part of our work to reaffirm their role in reducing the impact of business activity on the climate and environment.
However, despite children’s unique vulnerability, they have still largely been ignored or disregarded in the response to climate change. For example, only 2.4% of global climate finance from key multilateral climate funds supports projects incorporating child-responsive activities.
Unicef South Africa and the Department of Water and Sanitation recently developed the Climate, Energy and Environment Landscape Analysis for Children in South Africa. The report provides 10 recommendations that strive towards a child responsive agenda to protect children from the risks of climate change, energy choices and environmental degradation. This includes the need to deploy deliberate and explicit language on children and young people in national climate policies and programmes to ensure a more targeted response.
These recommendations, the guidance through General Comment 26 and the outcomes from COP28 must finally be the start of a sustained push to put children at the centre of our shared fight against climate change and environmental degradation. A clean, healthy and sustainable environment is both a human right and a necessary foundation for the full enjoyment of a broad range of children’s rights.
Let’s end with another cliché. This cannot be business as usual – we are literally in a race against time to save the planet for every child. DM
Christine Muhigana is the Unicef South Africa representative and Abigail Noko is the regional representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Southern Africa.
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Story
01 December 2023
HIV responses succeed when we let communities lead
“Mama, today is your day to visit the clinic,” reminds Bongezwa Maleyile and Nomzamo Zintoyinto, community healthcare workers in the traditionally Xhosa and rural Nqileni village in the Eastern Cape. Both healthcare workers are visiting the hut of Buziwe Nyingizwayo, 52, who is living with HIV.
The village is a three-hour drive from the main city, Mthatha, with a population of almost 1 000 residents, of which 50% are 15 to 24 years old. Despite its remoteness, the community has successfully eliminated mother-to-child transmission and proudly reports zero new HIV infections.
“This is the work of the Nomakhayas,” says Bongezwa, the head of the Community Healthcare Worker Programme.
The nomakhayas are community healthcare workers who go house-to-house every day to ensure monthly screenings of the residents in the village. They check for diabetes, hypertension and HIV while also providing on-site psycho-social support. With their equipment in their backpacks and creative use of technology, the nomakhayas keep track of which patients need to be visited and the medications to be delivered. In some instances they remain present in the house to ensure that patients take their antiretroviral therapy (ARVs). This is to make certain that people living with HIV, especially those who live alone, are supported and do not default on their treatment.
The work of the nomakhayas falls under the health programme developed and implemented by the Bulungula Incubator (BI), a resident NGO founded in 2004 by David Martin and Rejane Woodroffe. The programme, partly funded by the United States President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), implemented its HIV response plan in the area in 2012 after the death of several people in Nqileni and nearby villages from Aids-related illnesses.
“We started with support groups, where we used these groups and dialogues to share information and raise awareness about HIV but there was still a hesitancy to test [for HIV],” says Rejane.
She adds that the breakthrough came in 2013 when the BI used a sports and outreach event to attract residents and encouraged voluntary HIV testing.
“Each person who voluntarily tested for HIV would receive a bag filled with toiletries and necessities. We needed to make it exciting, inviting and engaging so we also used raffles and prizes,” said Rejane.
In a community fraught with poverty and severe socio-economic problems, the “goodie bag” and prizes were a significant incentive. After the successful Know your Status initiative, the BI was able to establish the number of people living with HIV and the next steps in its response: access and adherence to HIV treatment.
The nearest clinic at the time was more than 4km away and although the distance may sound relatively short, Bongezwa says the journey is “harsh”. It involves a one-hour walk to the Xhora River, crossing it in a rickety boat and a climb across two steep hills.
“This can take about three hours,” says Bongezwa. “Sometimes patients would walk this distance, many of them with children, only to find out that the clinic is experiencing a stock-out or [have to] wait in a long queue.”
During the rainy season, getting to the clinic is tougher, because crossing the river is unpredictable or even impossible.
This difficulty inspired the BI to establish the Bulungula Health Point in 2014, which is now also registered as a pick-up point for chronic medication. Two nurses are employed full-time, making healthcare accessible to all. Children are vaccinated, pregnancy tests and other screenings are done and ARVs are couriered by the provincial department of health to the health point, significantly reducing the need to travel long and dangerous distances. The pharmacy at the health point stocks various ARVs, including treatment for the children living with HIV ensuring no one is left behind.
According to the BI, about 20% of the Nqileni population is living with HIV.
“Initially, stigma, discrimination and a lack of information were barriers to treatment,” says Rejane, recalling the death of a BI staff member in 2011 who died of Aids after defaulting on antiretroviral treatment.
Stigma was a barrier to treatment for Buziwe’s husband, Sibongile Nyingizwayo, 46, who was diagnosed with HIV in 2011 and, out of fear, chose not to begin treatment nor disclose his status to Buziwe. In 2012, after falling ill, he finally told her and encouraged her to get tested. The couple have been on treatment since and with the nomakhayas support both Sibongile and Buziwe have achieved viral suppression.
Although this couple is open about their HIV status and treatment, Bongezwa talks about cases where disclosure is not an option for some people living with HIV. “Adherence is more important than sharing your status, so there are times when a person doesn’t want to let their partner or family know that they are HIV positive, and we have to find creative ways of hiding the medication in the house where it is accessible to the person living with HIV but hidden enough to not be discovered.”
The nomakhayas have built a relationship of trust in Nqileni and may often be the only support to those living with HIV.
In South Africa, lack of adherence to HIV treatment remains a problem. Of the 94% of people living with HIV who know their status, 78% are on treatment, according to the national department of health. The treatment gap for children living with HIV is even wider.
According to the latest Human Science Research Council statistics released on Monday in its sixth National HIV Incidence, Prevalence, Behaviour and Communication survey, 90% of people on treatment are showing a significant improvement.
UNAIDS research indicates that many people default on treatment within the first six months with stigma, discrimination and lack of support cited as barriers to treatment especially for vulnerable and priority populations, which include men who have sex with men, sex workers, adolescent girls and young women.
But there are numerous examples of communities across the country actively supporting people living with HIV and with continued empowerment and sustainable funding, it is evident that HIV responses can succeed when we let communities lead.
Zeenat Abdool is the Communication and Advocacy Officer for UNAIDS South Africa.
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First published by: The Mail & Guardian
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Story
05 December 2023
Awake at Night
Lewis Pugh was never afraid to take the plunge. Now ocean advocate for the United Nations Environment Programme, the record-breaking cold-water swimmer has completed long distance swims at both of the Earth’s Poles, in the Red Sea, and along the length of the Hudson River, to spread a message of habitat renewal and conservation.
“The first thing that happens is I can't breathe and I’m gasping for air. And the cold just grips its way around you. And you just got to try and control your mind, because there's a moment when you feel like panicking because there's nothing like this.”
Healthy oceans, seas and rivers are essential to supporting life on Earth - providing food, medicine, and acting as the world’s largest carbon sink. In this episode, Lewis Pugh reflects on his love for the water, on his breathtaking swims, and on breaking the diplomatic ice to create the world’s largest marine park.
“Everything relies on us being able to drink clean water and breathe fresh air and live and take care of this planet. So it's habitable. Everything else is secondary. This is about sustaining life on Earth.”
Melissa Fleming 00:00
Can you imagine choosing to swim in freezing Arctic waters without a wetsuit? Lewis Pugh is the first person to have completed a long-distance swim in every ocean in the world, often in extreme conditions.
Lewis Pugh 00:16
I dove into the water and the first thing that happens is I can't breathe. I’m gasping for air. And the cold just grips its way around you. And you’ve just got to try and control your mind, because there's a moment when you feel like panicking because there's nothing like this. And towards the end I'm so cold.
Melissa Fleming 00:42
He's a man with a mission to protect our seas and rivers. These days, he's the Ocean Advocate for the United Nations Environment Programme, and Patron of the Oceans. And he told me what drives him. From the United Nations, I'm Melissa Fleming. Welcome to Awake at Night.
Lewis Pugh 01:12
First of all, I love swimming. You know, you couldn't swim for 36 years in some of the most remote parts of the world unless you really love swimming. But also, because I try to shine a light on those parts of the world which are really threatened. And then afterwards try to get them protected.
Melissa Fleming 01:29
Okay, so that's loving swimming. Most people who love swimming swim in swimming pools, or in the lake, or a dip in the ocean. But some of these oceans are really extreme. In 2020, you became the first person to swim beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Can you just describe what that feels like?
Lewis Pugh 01:54
Let me just back up a little bit. Because I think the really pivotal moment when I really did the very cold stuff was the North Pole. So, this was a few years previously. This was 2007. And world leaders at the time were denying what was happening at the North Pole. And so, I sailed to the North Pole. And I remember arriving there and there’s a big open patch of sea. It’s completely black. And I just swim in a Speedo, cap, and goggles. And I'm standing there, and I'm about to dive in. And all I can think is, ‘If things go horribly wrong now, how long will it take for my frozen corpse to sink to the bottom of the sea?’ But I had spent six years in the high Arctic. I had seen the enormous changes taking place. And I said to myself, ‘You've got to dive in here, and you’ve got to swim across the North Pole.’
Melissa Fleming 02:47
So, what were… I mean, you mentioned these changes that were taking place in the North Pole, but just remind us. This is 2007. I think a lot of people in the world are just waking up to the fact that climate change is causing dramatic changes in our environment. What was happening in the North Pole, and what compelled you to swim?
Lewis Pugh 03:08
Well, I did all my training on an island called Spitsbergen in Svalbard, which is on the edge of the Norwegian Arctic Sea ice. And so, it's very, very close to North Pole. And I did my first swim there in 2005. And this was what I was witnessing - was the enormous rise in the warmth of the water, but also the melting of the glaciers. And I just don't think that world leaders had a grip on just how quickly this was happening.
Melissa Fleming 03:35
And so, then you decided that the way to send a message was to swim.
Lewis Pugh 03:41
A very, very simple message. Somebody is swimming across the North Pole across an open patch of sea. And I dove into the water, and I started swimming. And the water is so cold, it's below zero. So, it's -1.7°C because it's saltwater. I got out the other side. It took me 18 minutes and 50 seconds to get to the other side. And I can honestly say I got out the other side a different person. You know, 18 minutes and 50 seconds, every single one of those minutes felt like an hour. But I came out, as I say, I felt that I was a different person because I had witnessed what had happened there. And I had an absolute determination to take this message around the world about what I was witnessing in the high Arctic, and also down in Antarctica.
So, you alluded to the swim down under the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. So that was a few years later. What we were experiencing down in Antarctica were all these freshwater lakes appearing on the ice sheet. And so, I went down there, and we found a tunnel underneath the ice. And all I could think is, ‘If I can go down this tunnel… There's a bit of air, you know, above me. If I can go down this tunnel, I can convey a message better than any numbers. It's, you know, both poles are beginning to melt, and fast. And we must take action.’
Melissa Fleming 05:07
I just wonder. First of all, what does this feel like? Describe the feeling of being in that kind of cold. I know you're determined. I know you wanted to deliver a message, but it must be freezing like beyond comprehension.
Lewis Pugh 05:24
The only way I can describe it is by giving you some comparisons. When you swim in a normal swimming pool the water is 27°C. If you swim across the English Channel in summer - which lots of swimmers want to do - it's 18 [°C]. Drop all the way down to just 5 [°C]. That's the temperature the water in which the passengers of the Titanic perished. Freshwater obviously freezes at 0 [°C]. This is even colder. It's -1.7 [°C]. I dove into the water. And the first thing happens is I can't breathe. I’m gasping for air. And the cold just grips its way around you. And you’ve just got to try and control your mind because there's a moment when you feel like panicking because there's nothing like this. And I just say to myself, ‘Listen. I've just got to do 100 metres, and then another 100 metres, another 100 metres.’ So, this was a one-kilometre swim across the North Pole. And towards the end I'm so cold. Very difficult to control your arms and legs. This is a very, very high consequence environment. No human had ever swum in anywhere close to this water temperature before.
Melissa Fleming 06:30
No human had ever swum in anywhere close to this water temperature before.
Lewis Pugh 06:34
They had swum in water close to 0 [°C]. And you think, ‘Okay. What's the difference between zero and -1.7°C?’ I’ll tell you, it’s a world a difference. It’s terrifying.
Melissa Fleming 06:47
Reminds me of what people say the difference between a degree or two with global warming.
Lewis Pugh 06:52
Yes, absolutely.
Melissa Fleming 06:54
Yeah. So, I mean, how does one prepare for this swim? I mean, you don't wear a wetsuit. You're just in a normal swimsuit.
Lewis Pugh 07:03
Yeah, I mean, I do that because, first of all, one feels so much more connected with the environment when you're just in a Speedo, cap, and goggles, you know. I love to be connected with the water and to be connected with everything around me. But secondly, I'm urging world leaders to make hard, courageous decisions now about protecting the environment. And sometimes these decisions are really unpopular. And I felt that if I swam with a wetsuit or dry suit, it just wouldn't send the right message.
Melissa Fleming 07:33
Well, you certainly are. I mean, sitting close to us is your cameraman who's accompanying you on all of these extraordinary swims. And so, you have a camera with you at all times. Why is that important?
Lewis Pugh 07:50
Because I'm trying to tell a story about what's happening to our planet. So, I have a cameraman and I also have a videographer. And we… You know, these pictures are very, very stark. One person diving in there, conveying a message about the health of our planet. And so, we've done this all over the world. And so recently I did a swim across the Red Sea, across the most beautiful coral reefs you can ever imagine. And this was just before the COP negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh. And underneath me are tropical fish. And the colours of them are just beautiful. You know, the yellows and the blues and the big manta rays. The coral is absolutely magnificent. But the science is very, very stark. And the science is that we've… You know, if we heat the planet, these coral reefs are going to die. Corals are the nurseries of our oceans. They are so important. And they provide resilience around islands. Can you imagine a world without coral reefs. This will be the first time in human history that we lose potentially an entire ecosystem. And it could happen within our lifetime.
Melissa Fleming 08:57
That's incredible that it's just that tiny percentage of a degree that would have that consequential effect.
Lewis Pugh 09:03
Correct. Yes.
Melissa Fleming 09:04
And it has… It's detrimental for the fish and the sea life that thrives around them.
Lewis Pugh 09:12
And for humans as well. Because we all rely on coral reefs.
Melissa Fleming 09:15
How?
Lewis Pugh 09:16
Well, I mean, coral reefs, as I say, they provide resilience to islands. You know, I was in the Maldives recently. And I was there a few years ago, and I remember seeing such beautiful coral reefs. I went back there recently. And remember, most of these islands are very, very low lying. And there were people digging on the beach and building defences because the water temperature has risen. The coral reefs have died in some parts of the Maldives. And there's no protection against the storms. And so, the islands are very vulnerable.
Melissa Fleming 09:50
That's why island nations also have this existential fear of climate change.
Lewis Pugh 09:57
Yes.
Melissa Fleming 10:00
I'm just wondering how you prepare for these swims. You know, I'm sure the Red Sea was quite a challenge because of the distance. But these freezing swims. I mean, how…? Because most human bodies would not be able to endure that.
Lewis Pugh 10:17
No. Well, I mean, especially for the North Pole, what we did is we built a special swimming pool. And we put a tonne and a half of ice in it every single day. And I got in there every day, and I swam a kilometre and then we slowly lowered the temperature from 14°C, to 13 [°C], all the way down to 1°C. And it was incredibly painful. But that training was necessary. I train 51 weeks a year. I have to do a lot of running, a lot of swimming, a lot of kayaking, a lot of weights. It's a good couple of hours every single day on top of the environmental diplomacy which I have to do.
Melissa Fleming 10:52
I wonder, you must have some medical support when you're on these swims in these extreme conditions. Because what if something happened to you?
Lewis Pugh 11:04
Yes, sure.
Melissa Fleming 11:05
Have you ever needed it?
Lewis Pugh 11:09
No. But you know, I've always had a doctor next to me. I mean, this is pushing the edge of, you know, human endurance. A human is not designed to swim in water of -1.7 [°C]. And in fact, I've done swims in even colder water. I went down to the Ross Sea a few years ago to try and get that area protected. It's amazing. It's down in Antarctica. It's full of these emperor penguins, and humpback whales. And it's just an amazing place. And the water was slapping up against the side of the support boat and splashing up and turning into sludge mid-air. And I dived into the water, and I started swimming. And within a minute I could barely feel my hand. Within two minutes I was losing control of my forearms. Within three minutes, my arms. I survived in there for five minutes. It's such an extreme environment. But that area was so under threat that I was, you know… I'm determined to go there to carry a message about how important is to protect these places.
Melissa Fleming 12:17
Your work has been described as Speedo Diplomacy. In 2015, you helped establish the largest marine protected area in the world.
Lewis Pugh 12:26
Yes.
Melissa Fleming 12:27
This involved major international negotiations. So how did your swimming bring this about?
Lewis Pugh 12:34
So, Antarctica is a unique place. It’s unique in the world because it's governed by 25 nations and the European Union. These are the 25 nations which have got scientific stations down there. And in order to do anything to get that area protected, all 25 plus the EU, all have to agree it. And you can imagine how challenging that is. And the American government and New Zealand government had been trying to get this place protected for 17 years. And they got all the nations across the line except Russia. And I thought to myself, ‘Well, I've swum with a lot of Russians. And there’s one language which they understand and that’s cold water.’ They love swimming in cold water. And so, I said to myself, ‘I'm going to go down there. I'm going to do a swim. And then I'm going to go back to Russia. I’m going to go to Russia and try and speak to the leadership there about protecting this place.’
And so, I went down there. I did a swim. I mean, the conditions were so extreme. And my cameraman took a photograph of me in such a vulnerable position. I'd come out the water. There was ice all over me. I was frozen solid. And that we then sent to our team who handed it to media agencies in Russia. And it was all over Russian newspapers. And then I flew to Russia. And I didn't know what type of reception I was going to have. But it was actually quite astonishing because cold water is a language which Russians understand. And so, there was a man called Slava Fetisov who was a Russian ice hockey player. And he said, ‘I want to take you to all the leadership.’ And he took me to all the key decision makers. I shuttled backwards and forwards between Moscow and Washington for two years. And then that moment which came when they said, ‘We're going to agree to join the rest of the world in protecting this place.’ And the area is 1.5 million square kilometres. It's the size of Britain, France, Germany, Italy. All put together. It was the happiest day of my life.
Melissa Fleming 14:36
And what does that mean for the environment there, for wildlife, that it's protected?
Lewis Pugh 14:43
What was happening there was the big industrial fishing fleets wanted to move in there and catch what they called Chilean sea bass. The main threat was from industrial fishing.
Melissa Fleming 14:54
Why did you start working for the UN?
Lewis Pugh 14:56
I was very, very lucky. So, this was exactly 10 years ago. Achim Steiner approached me. He was the head of UN Environment at the time. And he said, ‘Lewis, you’re a swimmer. You're a maritime lawyer. You're in the oceans all the time. You're talking about what you're seeing. I wonder if you'd consider being our Patron of the Oceans.’ And I said to him, I said, ‘I'd be absolutely delighted.’ And he said, ‘And here's the brief.’ He said, ‘Just be a voice for the oceans and all the magnificent wildlife in our oceans. You know, the whales, the dolphins, penguins, the seals. Just be a voice for them.’ And that's what I've tried to do. But I also believe fundamentally that nations have to work to solve these big environmental crises. You cannot solve them on your own. So, it's been a privilege to serve the UN for 10 years.
Melissa Fleming 15:45
I wonder how you got into this in the first place. I mean, where did it all begin? I believe you were born in Britain, but you grew up in South Africa. Tell me about your childhood. What took you there? And when did you start swimming?
Lewis Pugh 15:58
Geography can mould you. It really can. I mean, I grew up in Plymouth. I mean, and Plymouth is a gateway to the North Atlantic. My father was a doctor in the navy, and I lived in a naval hospital there. And I went to school overlooking the harbour. And I would see the ships going out to sea. And as a young boy, my mother said to me, ‘Lewis, you're always saying that you wanted to be on one of those ships going out to sea.’ And then at 10 years old, we emigrated out to South Africa. My father's mother had been South African. And we went to go live in Cape Town where three oceans meet. And I went to school, and my school overlooked Robben Island. And then one day I looked out across that island from the history classroom, and I said to myself, ‘I want to swim from Robben Island back to Cape Town.’ And that started it.
Melissa Fleming 16:50
What did Robben Island mean to you?
Lewis Pugh 16:52
Well, this is an interesting time, because this was 1987. This was a political prison at the time. And I did this swim. I swam from Robben Island. And I remember arriving at the island and there were jailers all over. They escorted me down to the beach. And there were a lot of political prisoners standing there cleaning the beach. And it was the 1st of May 1987. And I remember them waving me off. And I got in the water, and I started swimming, and in the first hour it was okay. By the second hour, I was incredibly cold. By two and a half hours, I was frozen to the core. I was swimming breaststroke. I finally got to the other side. And I barely stumbled ashore. I was so frozen to the core. My father was there to meet me. It was the first swim he saw, and then he passed away shortly afterwards. So that whole swim, so much emotion about that time and that history in South Africa, and then with my parents.
Melissa Fleming 18:03
I mean, it was the apartheid era, and Mandela was imprisoned there.
Lewis Pugh 18:06
So, Mandela spent, I think, about 18 years on the island. At the time, he'd been removed from the island, and he was in another prison in a different part of Cape Town in Tokai. But shortly afterwards, I went to the University of Cape Town. And I think this was a moment in history. I arrived at the University of Cape Town, which was a liberal university in Cape Town. And university started in February. And after a few days at university, we all listened to the announcements by the state presidents that there would be the unbanning of the African National Congress, that Nelson Mandela would be released. It was an unbelievable time.
And a number of my lecturers helped write the new constitution. And a constitution is such an important document because it sets out the hopes and dreams, the ambitions of a nation that we could come together, that we could learn how to listen to the dialogue of the other side. And this is what I've been able to… You know, these are the lessons which are so necessary if you're going to be an environmental diplomat. Because you have to listen to the dialogue of the other side. But you've also got to be like a locksmith. You can't keep going to the same closed door with the same set of keys. You've got to try and find a way through that door to be able to persuade the person - the environment minister on the other side, or whoever it may be, a CEO of a big polluting company - that we can do things differently. And that there is something where we can work together for the future of our children and our grandchildren, and the whole of the animal kingdom.
Melissa Fleming 19:54
Do you remember the feeling you had when you learned that Nelson Mandela was going to be released?
Lewis Pugh 19:59
I remember it. And I remember exactly where I was.
Melissa Fleming 20:03
Where?
Lewis Pugh 20:04
I was on a beach in Cape Town. And it took everybody by surprise. Archbishop Desmond Tutu became the founding patron of my foundation. And I remember speaking to him about it. And he said, it took his breath away. It took his breath away because he thought that it could be another 10,15, 20 years’ time. And he said it was just amazing. And he cried. And I think… I was young at the time. I was, you know, I was just 19 years old, and I didn't know what was going to happen. There was so much uncertainty.
Melissa Fleming 20:45
And I see tears in your eyes now.
Lewis Pugh 20:47
Yeah, because, you know, I went to Robben Island jail a couple of years later with a man called Ahmed Kathrada. And Ahmed Kathrada had been imprisoned with Nelson Mandela. And shortly before he died, he invited myself and a few people to go to Robben Island. And he took me into his cell. And, you know, I’m in his cell and it's so small. You put your arms across, and you can barely touch the walls. And there's a small window with three bars. And there's a big fluorescent light above us. And there's a bucket on the ground for the ablution and two very thin blankets. And you don't know what… I didn't know what to say to him. And all I could say to him, I said, ‘Ahmed, what was it like in here?’ And you know what he said to me? Melissa, he said to me, he said, ‘If I were to describe it with one word, I would say cold. That cold wind coming in off the Atlantic Ocean. Cold showers. Cold food. Cold waters. And if I'm honest with you, I don't think I have actually warmed up.’
And then we walk outside his cell. He closes it because now he's now one of the governors of the museum. He closes it. We walk two cells down. He stands at Nelson Mandela’s cell. He holds the bars. He looks in there. And he says, ‘I would do that all over again for Nelson.’ Now, this is not somebody that's lost the first 27 years of your life, or the last 27 years of your life. It’s the middle section. It's when you have your hopes, your dreams and education. Maybe start a business, start a family, get married. And it's gone. And it's gone forever. And the forgiveness which those people had. I asked Ahmed, ‘What should I do?’ He said, ‘Swim, Lewis.’
Melissa Fleming 22:56
Why did he say that? How did he know that you swimming would be so meaningful?
Lewis Pugh 23:01
There'd been a lot of media in South Africa about the swimming across the North Pole. I did a swim on Everest. There was so much media attention about it. And I think you know, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, all these people, began to realize what the defining issues of our generation were. Desmond Tutu said to me, he said, ‘You know, Lewis, when we damage the environment, we create conditions which are ripe for conflict. But conversely, when we protect the environment, we foster peace.’ And, you know, I was too young at the time, but I suppose they could see that swimming in these spaces could carry a message that science perhaps couldn't carry - that we have to start working together.
Melissa Fleming 23:50
You just completed a swim down the Hudson River. 315 miles, I believe. 31 days. Why the Hudson River? And also, maybe what did it have to do with arriving just a few days before the General Assembly started and world leaders gathered here in New York?
Lewis Pugh 24:13
Rivers are essential for life on Earth. I mean, they're the arteries of our planet. And so many rivers around the world are now so unhealthy. They're so polluted. And so, I wanted to do one swim around the world, which would carry a message. And it always came back to the Hudson River. And the reason for that is because it starts high up in the Adirondack Mountains. And there you’ve got beavers, you’ve got vultures, you’ve got bears. And at the end, New York City and obviously the headquarters of the United Nations.
But it was also an amazing story because 50 years ago the Hudson was one of the most polluted rivers in the world. And certainly, one of the most polluted rivers here in America. And New Yorkers said enough is enough. And they started cleaning it up mile by mile, town after town, factory after factory. And they turned its fate around. And yes, we mustn't be naive. We've got to be vigilant. There is still pollution in the river. But it's an amazing story. And so, I decided I'm going to swim down the whole of this river. And then I'm going to come here to the General Assembly and deliver a message about I think that this can be a blueprint for rivers all over the world. I have hope that this gives hope to people around the world that your river - whether you're in England, whether you're in India, China, South Africa, Brazil - that your river can one day be saved.
Melissa Fleming 25:39
I saw… I was following you as you were doing the swim and I saw on one day you swam past a factory, and it was… It looked… I don't know, I was wondering, is this safe for you? It didn't look very inviting or clean.
Lewis Pugh 25:58
What was interesting was meeting people from across all demographic groups, and all ages. And so many came up to me and they said, ‘We are so proud of what has been achieved here in the Hudson River.’ One gentleman said to me that he lived next to one of those factories, and he'd wake up in the morning and the river would be completely white. And the next day, he'd go back to the river, and it'd be completely red. And the following day, completely blue. And that's because that factory was a car factory. And the colour of the river depended upon the colour of the car they were manufacturing that day. Things have changed. They've really done so much work. The Hudson is such an inspirational story.
And near the source of the Hudson, I remember watching an enormous bald eagle come out the trees, and then swooped down towards me, and then start following me down the river. And to think that just a few years ago this bald eagle - which is a symbol of the United States of America - was virtually extinct in the Hudson Valley. And it shows what can happen when you really start cleaning up a river, investing in a river, and making water a priority. Because water is one of our most precious resources. And at the end of the river, I swam underneath the George Washington Bridge. And I breathed to my left-hand side I see all the skyscrapers of Manhattan. And then in the distance I can see the Statue of Liberty with Lady Liberty holding the torch. All I could think is, ‘Everything which we hold dear to ourselves. Everything relies on us being able to drink clean water and breathe fresh air and live and take care of this planet so it's habitable. Everything else is secondary. This is about sustaining life on earth.’
Melissa Fleming 27:58
I believe you swam at least five hours a day on this river. And I'm sure it wasn't easy. I mean, rivers have rapids. They have rocks. There are dams. What were some of the biggest challenges in navigating this swim?
Lewis Pugh 28:19
The biggest challenge was at the beginning where there was fear. Because I was so frightened that when you're going down the rapids, you hit a rock, and you can really injure yourself. And then the other section where I, you know, which was really, really challenging, was in the middle section when we started having rains. Because we know that when you have rains, sometimes sewage overflows into the river. We were lucky. I didn't get sick. I've done five swims down rivers in my life. And in three of them I got seriously sick. In two of them I didn't. The one was a swim down a river in Antarctica. Obviously there not many people living in Antarctica and the other one was the Hudson. So, I think that says a lot about how New Yorkers have really turned the fate of this river around.
Melissa Fleming 29:06
How is river swimming different from sea swimming?
Lewis Pugh 29:10
With the sea, obviously, you have the buoyancy because it's saltwater. With rivers you don't have that buoyancy and so you've got to really concentrate on lifting your backside out of the water. The other thing about river swimming is that when it comes to pollution, there's obviously pollution in the sea, but in rivers it’s highly concentrated. And so, getting sick in rivers is a real risk. So those are the two main differences that one faces between these two environments.
Melissa Fleming 29:42
When you arrived in lower Manhattan, how did you feel when you emerged from the water?
Lewis Pugh 29:48
Exhausted because it was such a long swim. But also incredibly rejuvenated, because of all the people I'd met. And because, you know, when I went into the swim, I thought this could turn out very differently. You hit a rock, or you know, you get pollution sickness, sickness from pollution. This could have a very different outcome.
Melissa Fleming 30:15
What's keeping you awake at night?
Lewis Pugh 30:19
Penguins. And I say that because that first swim which I did from Robben Island, I remember looking back and seeing all those penguins all along the beach. African penguins. And they're magnificent and they make so much noise. And I dove into the water, and I swam back to Cape Town. I went back there a few years ago. And their numbers just absolutely plummeted. I found about four or five penguins there left on the island. And what the scientists are saying now is that it's these three things which have all come together. It's pollution. You can get a big oil spill. It can literally wipe out the whole colony. It’s climate change. So, the prey species are moving further away. So, the penguins have to go a long way to get their food. And it's overfishing. We've literally got fishing right on the edge of these penguin colonies.
And so, what the scientists are saying now is that over the next 10-20 years, these animals will go functionally extinct on the west coast of Southern Africa. And I just… I look at that as emblematic of what's happening around the world that we really have to focus on it. I think the other thing which keeps me up at night is, you know, I run a foundation. I've got a team and I want to do loads of expeditions. I want to carry this message into different parts of the world. And it's obviously difficult to raise funds for these things. And so that certainly keeps me up at night.
Melissa Fleming 31:53
How long do you want to keep doing this?
Lewis Pugh 31:57
Well, I've swum for 35 years. And I want to swim for another 35 years because I love swimming. But also, I want to keep carrying on talking about the health of the planet and what we can all do to save our planet. And so, if you think of it that way, I'm at the halfway mark now.
Melissa Fleming 32:21
So how can people help?
Lewis Pugh 32:25
You know, I want people to wake up every day and ask themselves a really, really simple question. And that is, what steps can I take today to help protect our planet? And they may be big steps, may be small steps. It depends on where you are in society. But what steps can I take today to help save the planet? And then I urge you to dive in and commit 100%. But we are now in a race against time. Be under no illusions about that.
Melissa Fleming 32:58
In this race, you'll be swimming, Lewis, I imagine.
Lewis Pugh 33:00
I'll keep on swimming.
Melissa Fleming 33:04
Lewis, it's been really great and inspirational to talk to you. Thanks for joining us.
Lewis Pugh 33:08
Thank you so much, Melissa.
Melissa Fleming 33:11
Thank you for listening to Awake at Night. We'll be back soon with more incredible and inspiring stories from people working against huge challenges to make this world a better and safer place.
To find out more about the series and the extraordinary people featured, do visit un.org/awake-at-night. Do subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and please take the time to review us. It helps more people find the show.
Thanks to my editor Bethany Bell, to Adam Paylor, Josie Le Blond, and my colleagues at the UN: Katerina Kitidi, Roberta Politi, Geneva Damayanti, Tulin Battikhi, Bissera Kostova, Anzhelika Devis, Carlos Macias and the team at the UN studio. The original music for this podcast was written and performed by Nadine Shah and produced by Ben Hillier. Additional music was by Pascal Wyse.
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15 November 2023
Honoring the Sacrifice: The UN in South Africa commemorates the loss of colleagues in Gaza
On the 13 November 2023, the United Nations in South Africa participated in a somber observance, symbolized by the ceremonial lowering of UN flags to half-mast to mourn the loss of 101 UN staff member in Gaza. The designated minute of silence transcended symbolism, representing a substantive act of solidarity. This solemn interlude underscored the steadfast commitment and selfless sacrifices undertaken by UN colleagues in the dedicated pursuit of the UN’s humanitarian work.
Their selfless dedication and resilience in the face of adversity stand as a testament to the courageous spirit of the United Nations. As we honor their memory, we recognize the profound impact these heroes had in making a difference in the lives of those affected by conflict.
“It is truly a sad time for the UN and humanity. The loss of our UN colleagues in Gaza must not be in vain. Let us remember our colleagues who bravely served amidst the tumultuous landscape of the Gaza,” says Mr. Nelson Muffuh, UN Resident Coordinator in South Africa. “Today we stand in solidarity with other UN duty stations for a solemn moment of reflection and silence to honor their contribution to humanity. The echoes of their sacrifice resonate beyond the boundaries of conflict, reminding us that the true measure of heroism lies in the selfless service to others, even in the most perilous circumstances.”.
The UN continues to call for, humanitarian ceasefire, respect for international humanitarian law, unconditional release of hostages, protection of civilians, hospitals, UN facilities, shelters and schools, ending use of civilians as human shields and for more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
Various UN agencies also observed a moment of silence in the offices in South Africa.
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20 November 2023
UNIC Pretoria hosts a Fact-checking and Verification training workshop to equip Journalists with reliable reporting techniques
UNIC Pretoria hosts a Fact-checking and Verification training workshop to equip Journalists with reliable reporting techniques
Journalists must ensure accuracy, maintain credibility, counter misinformation, uphold ethical standards, avoid bias, and mitigate legal risks, all integral aspects of their work.
The United Nation Information Centre (UNIC) and Africa Check hosted a Fact-Checking and Verification training workshop for South African journalists, honing fact-checking abilities on the 15th of November 2023 in Johannesburg. This initiative forms part of an ongoing communication drive aimed at combatting misinformation and disinformation. The training was facilitated by Carina van Wyk, head of education and training at Africa Check.
Elections consistently foster an atmosphere where false information thrives, and we foresee the upcoming South African elections continuing this trend. Emphasizing the crucial role of journalists, especially during such times, we highlight their responsibility in providing accurate information to the public.
“Everything we report on, impacts people’s lives. We cannot misquote information as journalists.” – Marcia Zali, freelance journalist.
Fact-checking and verification stand as indispensable practices for journalists, crucial in preserving the integrity, credibility, and influence of their work while honoring the public's entitlement to trustworthy information. It represents a core tenet of responsible journalism within democratic contexts, where journalists act as guardians against the detrimental impacts of false information. Their commitment ensures a well-informed public capable of making decisions founded on accuracy and reliability, thereby safeguarding the vitality of democratic societies, and reinforcing the ethos of responsible journalism.
“People rely on the media and journalists to inform them. If we misquote information, we mislead the public.” – Marizka Coetzer, journalist from The Citizen.
The United Nations advocates for fact-checking and verification as essential tools in promoting accurate information and combating misinformation. The UN stresses the importance of verifying information before sharing it, especially in today's digital age where misinformation can spread rapidly and have significant consequences.
The workshop aimed at providing participants with a deep understanding of the mechanisms driving the spread of misinformation, encompassing motivations and contributing factors. Additionally, it seeks to equip attendees with practical skills to discern misinformation from credible sources on diverse online platforms. Furthermore, the objective includes mastering the use of online verification tools and techniques to authenticate the accuracy and origins of internet-based images and videos, ultimately aiding in curbing the circulation of false information.
"Journalists have a responsibility over and above just reporting." Carina van Wyk, Head of education and training, Africa check.
As we anticipate in the upcoming South African elections to perpetuate the spread of false information, it remains imperative to underscore the pivotal responsibility entrusted to journalists, especially in such critical times. The essence of fact-checking and verification cannot be overstated, as these practices are the bedrock of maintaining the integrity, credibility, and impact of journalism while fulfilling the public's right to dependable information. Within the democratic fabric, journalists function as a support against the malicious effects of misinformation, ensuring that the public remains well-informed and capable of making informed decisions rooted in accuracy and trustworthiness. Their unwavering dedication is crucial in strengthening democratic societies, maintaining their health, and ensuring responsible journalism standards are upheld.Top of Form
“We greatly appreciate your interest in the fact-checking media training workshop. Your active involvement signifies a collective dedication to countering misinformation, which is pivotal in safeguarding journalistic integrity, especially given the upcoming elections. We are enthusiastic about this collaboration and eagerly anticipate a fruitful and enlightening session as we join forces in the pursuit of reliable and credible information” – Masimba Tafirenyika, UNIC Director.
The UN continues to encourage collaboration between governments, civil society, media organizations, and technology companies to develop strategies and initiatives aimed at improving fact-checking mechanisms and promoting accurate information dissemination. Additionally, various UN agencies have addressed the importance of verified information in specific contexts, such as during humanitarian crises, health emergencies, and conflicts, where accurate information can be critical for public safety and well-being.
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Press Release
31 October 2023
FAO South Africa and The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform & Rural Development Commemorate World Food Day in KwaZulu-Natal
PRETORIA - The country representative Dr Ahmadu Babagana commemorated World Food Day with The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform & Rural Development in KZN, KwaMaphumulo, Ilembe District, Sixeni Sport Ground.
World Food Day is commemorated every year on 16 October to mark the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and underscore the need to step up efforts to end hunger and other forms of malnutrition.
It is a day to highlight our collective efforts towards progressively achieving zero hunger targets, while also underlining the important role played by food and agriculture in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This year’s theme is “Water is Life, Water is food. Leaving no one behind”. It calls for collective action in making healthy diets available and affordable to all.
This year’s World Food Day focusses on celebrates one of the planet’s most precious resource: water. It is essential to life on Earth. It covers the majority of the planet’s surface, makes up over 50 percent of our bodies, helps keep us fed, supports livelihoods and is central to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We all have a responsibility to protect our planet and all its natural resources. Especially water. Without water there is no life, without water, there is no food. Therefore, it is important for us all to come together in partnerships and collaboration to address the following issues around water;
Good governance is crucial for sustainable and equitable water allocation, through an integrated and inclusive approach with all partners. Water governance and tenure, water pricing, regulations, and incentive measures, are needed to drive change and ensure equitable access to clean and safe water resources.
We need to implement integrated water resources management through coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources to maximize human well-being, without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.
Investment in innovative, efficient water management practices is vital, including recent advances in irrigation and storage technologies and science-based solutions to address water scarcity and harnessing flooding; so that we are building a water-saving and resilient society.
In conclusion, none of us can be able to achieve these Goals alone. Partnership between Government, Private Sector and Civil Society remains being our best chance at achieving our 2023 Sustainable Development Goals.
Media Equiries:
Luthando.Kolwapi@fao.org
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Press Release
31 October 2023
PRESS STATEMENT: The United Nations in South Africa applauds Springboks for their remarkable victory
Pretoria - The United Nations in South Africa congratulates the national rugby team, the Springboks, for their remarkable and historic victory at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France and their triumphant return to the Rainbow Nation.
“Staff across all United Nations entities in South Africa applaud the Springboks’ endurance and resilience throughout the tournament. This victory showcased team spirit of those both on and off the field. It highlights the fact that South Africans are truly stronger together when they embrace the interdependence and active citizenry that is needed to dig deep and rise against all odds, giving hope to millions across country and the world,” says Nelson Muffuh, the head of the UN and its Resident Coordinator in South Africa.
Sport has for decades been a unifying factor and we have once again seen this play out during these recent weeks. The UN recognizes this crucial role and its extended impact in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting inclusivity, empowering individuals and communities, fostering social cohesion, and promoting sustainable practices. By leveraging the power of sports, we can raise awareness, inspire action, and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs, ensuring a more sustainable and inclusive future for all. The Springboks serve as an inspiration for all South Africans to harness the power of sports in addressing social, environmental, and developmental challenges.
“We laud Springbok Captain Siya Kolisi’s exceptional and inspirational leadership on the field and his efforts off the field as a UN Global Advocate working toward ending violence against women and girls around the world,” says Mr. Muffuh. “His dedication toward positive masculinity and calling on men and boys to become part of the solution is truly commendable. As we approach the 16 Days of Activism, we urge everyone to work towards advancing individual and collective actions to speak out and put an end to violence against women and girls. Together, we can bring about the change we seek for our common future.”
The UN stands ready to support and collaborate with the Springboks and the people of South Africa in their pursuit for more inclusive, equal, and peaceful society.
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For interviews and media enquiries, please contact Eunice Namugwe, UN Information Centre Pretoria, at namugwe@un.org or 071 6828 310
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Press Release
26 October 2023
#Run4HumanRights: A call to celebrate and reflect on 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
In 2023, the world commemorates 75 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was signed. This anniversary (Human Rights 75) is an opportunity to reflect on the achievements made in advancing human rights worldwide. It is also a moment to consider the work that still needs to be done to ensure that all people, everywhere, realise their human rights.
As part of these commemorations, in South Africa, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Regional Office for Southern Africa (OHCHR ROSA), in partnership with the Irene Athletics Club, will hold the Irene Farm Race #Run4Human Rights with Discovery Vitality on 28 October 2023.
With the adoption of the UDHR in 1948, countries agreed to secure and protect the human rights of people regardless of gender, race, religion or socioeconomic status. Since the landmark Declaration, globally and in South Africa, there has been considerable progress towards freedom, equality and justice – the values that underpin the Declaration. Yet, there is still a long way to go for everyone to realise their human rights.
"Running is often a reflective and energising experience, but also one of solidarity as runners encourage each other towards the finish line. #Run4HumanRights is a timely occasion to think about and reengage with the human rights that are important to us and our communities. We can also commit to doing our part so that together, we reach the ultimate prize – a world where everyone, everywhere, enjoys their human rights," said Abigail Noko, OHCHR ROSA Regional Representative.
The race takes place at the Agricultural Research Council Campus in Irene and includes 5km, 10km and 21km routes and a 1km “kiddie’s fun race”. The 5km and 10km routes are suitable for wheelchair users.
The 10km and 21km races will begin at 06:00 am, the 5km fun run at 06:15 am, and the 1km kiddies run at 07:45 am. Finish Time will time the race and Discovery Vitality will offer points for participating Vitality members.
To enter online and for more information, please visit https://www.entryninja.com/events/79442-irene-farm-race#general.
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Media contact: Mariana Alice Gomes Neto, Human Rights Officer, OHCHR
Email: mariana.gomesneto@un.org, Telephone: +27 79 243 0250
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About Human Rights 75
In 2023, we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone celebration called Human Rights 75. Throughout 2023, the initiative seeks to increase knowledge on the universality and indivisibility of human rights, especially among young people, and inspire people to create a movement of shared humanity while empowering them to fight for their rights. For more information, visit: ohchr.org/en/human-rights-75
About the United Nations Human Rights Office
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) is the leading United Nations entity on human rights. OHCHR represents the world's commitment to promote and protect the full range of human rights and freedoms set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. OHCHR’s activities include:
Working with and assisting Governments in fulfilling their human rights obligations
Speaking out objectively in the face of human rights violations worldwide
Providing a forum for identifying, highlighting and developing responses to today's human rights challenges
Acting as the principal focal point of human rights research, education, public information, and advocacy activities
Working with partners to widen the constituency for human rights worldwide.
For more information, go to: www.ohchr.org
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Press Release
10 October 2023
60 per cent of youth needed mental health support over past year – UNICEF South Africa U-Report poll
Some 60 per cent of children and youth felt they needed mental health support over the past year, according to the latest UNICEF South Africa U-Report poll. The findings show a 15 per cent reduction from a similar poll last year but little change among the 15-24-year-old age group, of whom 70 per cent still needed help to improve their mental wellbeing. The need for support was 5 per cent higher among respondents who identified as female compared to male.
The poll results are released ahead of World Mental Health Day, 10 October, with the theme, ‘Mental health is a universal human right’, to drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health. Poll results also showed that only 63 per cent of respondents who needed support actively sought it, the primary reason for not getting help was not knowing where to go. Some 22 per cent of respondents cited family as an outlet for support but only 36 per cent have ever spoken with their caregivers about their mental health.
“Children’s wellbeing starts at home,” said Christine Muhigana, UNICEF Representative in South Africa. “A nurturing, loving and stable home environment provides the best foundation possible for a child to grow up physically and mentally healthy,” added Muhigana.
The latest youth pulse, through the U-Report poll system, also showed that 48 per cent of young respondents are most anxious about the need to build their skills for future employment, a 16 per cent jump on last year’s findings. Increased poverty due to rising living costs and succeeding in education followed as the lead reasons for worry.
Encouragingly, young people believe they are able and willing to help their peer’s mental health, with 91 per cent of respondents saying they are confident to some degree of providing support, a rise from 84 per cent in the previous year’s poll.
While much has been done to break the stigma, UNICEF continues to engage with children, young people, and caregivers to normalize conversations around mental health, including through the ‘On My Mind’ campaign.
“Increasing knowledge among caregivers about the importance of mental wellbeing for child development can improve their ability to not only support their children’s mental health but be more aware of their own,” said Muhigana. “This is especially important for emotional regulation and stress management, particularly during times of heightened anxiety,” added Muhigana.
Global research shows that the cost of delivering parenting interventions per family is roughly comparable to the cost of a routine childhood vaccination programme and can reduce the burden on health systems, improve educational achievement and longer-term economic outcomes.
The latest U-Report findings come following the two-day Regional Psychosocial Support Initiatives (REPSSI) conference, 05 to 06 October, in Johannesburg. The gathering included discussions and lessons learnt from best practices across eastern and southern Africa. The Global Mental Health Summit in Argentina also just wrapped up at which UNICEF called for increased investment in mental health and psychosocial services.
UNICEF South Africa’s support to child and youth mental health cuts across sectors to provide the most holistic response possible, including:
Parenting programmes, including the ‘Parenting for Lifelong Health’ package of evidence-based, cost-effective, and home-based parenting support, publications, and digital applications, such as ‘ECD Mobi’ and ‘Sinovuyo Teen Parenting’.
Psychosocial support and training for educators to in-turn improve support for learners, including referrals to mental health professionals when relevant.
Supporting the ‘Risiha Programme’, including Safe Parks, that provide psychosocial, health, education and nutrition support to vulnerable children and youth.
Adolescent girls’ and young mothers support network providing a safe space for young women to discuss physical and mental wellbeing.
Engaging children and youth through access to information and resources, such as the U-Report mental health chat bots, ChildLine SA and ‘My body, my health: my wealth’ campaign.
In support of children and young people, UNICEF South Africa calls for:
Increased and sustained investment in child and adolescent mental health and psychosocial support across sectors.
Support for parenting programmes through committed resources and effective information sharing and referral systems, including at primary healthcare facilities.
Ensuring learners and educators have the resources to support their mental health through quality and inclusive services and positive relationships.
Breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and psychosocial conditions, through promoting better understanding of mental health and taking seriously the experiences of children and young people.
The UNICEF South Africa U-Report poll received nearly 26,000 responses, with 85 per cent of those from children and young people aged 15 to 30-years.
Notes to editors:
U-Report is a platform managed by UNICEF South Africa that helps young people to have a voice on issues that matter to them and to access information, tools and services to influence positive social change.
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Press Release
14 September 2023
Call to action for people and planet: Harmonizing Mandela's Legacy with the Sustainable Development Goals
Pretoria - In an effort to foster accelerated individual and collective actions for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations in South Africa and the Nelson Mandela Foundation formally launched the “Nelson Mandela Sustainable Development Goals Quotes” Booklet on the 11 September at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The booklet, which was prepared in support of this year’s 2023 SDG Summit to be held at the UN Headquarters in New York from 18-19 September, establishes connections between Nelson Mandela's inspiring calls to action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) designed for the betterment of humanity and the environment. Participants at the multi-stakeholder gathering ranged from the government, civil society, private sector, the diplomatic community, creative artists as well as women and youth.
“This is not just about governments and international organizations taking action; it's about mobilizing a whole-of-society contribution. It requires a multifaceted approach that involves various stakeholders, including businesses, individuals, leaders, activists, and communities,” said Nelson Muffuh, UN Resident Coordinator in South Africa.
The SDGs are a global call to action to address the most pressing challenges facing humanity and our planet, from ending poverty and hunger to ensuring gender equality, reversing unsustainable production and consumption patterns, advancing rights and improving governance, protecting and conserving nature, reducing waste and pollution, and combating climate change.
Mr. Muffuh pointed out that the world is currently off track with regards to the necessary progress towards meeting the 2030 deadline. To course-correct and accelerate progress towards these goals, it was imperative that everyone, from member states and businesses to individuals and civil society, plays their part. He thanked the Nelson Mandela Foundation for their tireless efforts and collaboration in ensuring that Madiba's call to action continues to echo in our hearts and minds. “Let us honor his legacy by taking off this mantle of responsibility and actively work towards a world that reflects the values he fought for which include; fairness, justice, cohesion, equality and freedom. The path to a prosperous and sustainable world is paved with the continuation of Madiba's legacy. Be Madiba and act now for people and planet,” he said.
Addressing the delegates at the book launch, Mr. Gushwell Brooks, Head of Mandela Day and Public Outreach at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, underscored the significance of the SDGs in striving for a world characterized by equality across political, economic, and environmental dimensions. He highlighted how this alignment beautifully resonates with Nelson Mandela's enduring legacy. He reminded attendees that the SDGs are fundamentally linked to principles of social justice and the vision that Madiba held dear, in addressing issues like poverty and inequality.
In her remarks, the High Commissioner of Kenya, Catherine Muigai Mwangi, called for the wide use of the booklet as it was a practical tool to facilitate the realization of the SDGs.” Steve Letsike, Co-Chair of the South Africa National AIDS Council and Chair of the Civil Society Forum spoke of the vital role of, and space needed for civil society organizations to play their part in driving innovation to achieve SDGs.
Natania Botha, an environmental and social justice activist, donated a piece of art to the UN as her dedication to SDGs. She called it the “last correspondent,” a mosaic of colors and textures that represents the urgency of the times and a poignant reminder of the tremendous impact of climate change on the planet. “The art piece, a human torso stands boldly in the face of adversity, serves as a symbol of resilience, strength and reminds us that even when the weight of the world challenges down upon us, we must rise unyielding in the face of challenges and hope that one day, we will have the privilege to share the tales of a world renewed with love and care.”
The book launch started with a video message of support from the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed. “The SDGs embody our commitment to end poverty, protect the planet and enhance prosperity and wellbeing of all. We find ourselves playing catch-up in the midway point and now is not the time to be disheartened. It is time to act now, for people and for planet and play our part as our global icon Nelson Mandela once called on us. The wonderful publication using Madiba’s own words to inspire and guide us all in our efforts to achieve the SDGs, is timely. Madiba understood the power of collective and individual responsibility. Madiba’s words remind us that achieving SDGs is not just a responsibility, it is a commitment to the values we hold dear, fairness, justice, and equality. The race is on and it is a race we can and must win. But now more than ever, it is in our hands and it always seems impossible, until it’s done,” echoed Ms. Mohammed.
Representatives from the private sector, civil society, youth share their calls to action by urging their members and communities to act now to attain SDGs by 2030. UN Information Centres (UNICs), including those in Moscow and Brussels, shared videos with messages on the actions they were taking in support of SDGs.
The Grammy-award winner, Wouter Kellerman, strongly believes that music transcends boundaries, builds bridges, and connects people. His call to action at the Mandela SDGs Quotes Booklet was a challenge to all Grammy-award winners and musicians to use their music networks and artistry to push for the attainment of the SDGs. He played a tune in honour of Madiba.
“So much has and continues to go wrong under the watchful eyes of our elders, it is not from a lack of trying but we can certainly say that what is being done is not enough. This then places mandate of getting the accomplishment of the SDGS on the bending shoulders of young people across the world,” said Tebogo Sipung, Executive Director for the Youth Network ACTIVATE. She made a clear call to action saying that young people possess the ability, agility and vigor to make a shift and to flip the pages of history to ensure that no other young person is left behind, in the quest of eradicating poverty and inequality in our lifetime.
Achieng Ojwang, representing the UN Global Compact Local Network for South Africa, highlighted that businesses have placed a strong emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 4, 5, 8, and 13. These specific SDGs are set to be assessed to evaluate how effectively businesses are contributing to their achievement. She urged businesses to elevate their efforts, set higher aspirations, and foster greater collaboration with both government entities and within the business community itself. “This collective action is essential in driving meaningful progress towards achieving the SDGs,’ she added.
UN staff members, Dr. Pride Chigwedere from UNAIDS and Nkululeko Mazibuko from the World Food Programme (WFP) in a harmonious duet provided entertainment at the book launch for the participants.
For media enquiries please contact: Eunice Namugwe, UN Information Centre – Pretoria, Email: namugwe@un.org, Tel: +27 71 6828310
See photos: LAUNCH PHOTOS (Credit phots as follows: UN South Africa/Ropafadzo Chiradza)
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29 September 2023
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