#whd2016

On this World Heart Day let's take an action to keep our heart healthy and happy.

This past Friday, August 19, was World Humanitarian Day. 

'We cannot and will not leave anyone behind,' says UN chief on World Humanitarian Day

“With a record 130 million people worldwide now dependent on humanitarian assistance, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed that though solutions to the crises that plunged these people into such desperate hardship are neither simple nor quick, 

“there are things we can all do – today, and every day. We can show compassion, we can raise our voices against injustice, and we can work for change.”

“World Humanitarian Day is an annual reminder of the need to act to alleviate the suffering,” said Mr. Ban in his message on the Day, which he said is also an occasion to honour the humanitarian workers and volunteers toiling on the frontlines of crises and pay tribute to these dedicated women and men who brave danger to help others at far greater risk.”

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“Today, I urge everyone to sign on to the United Nations World You'd Rather campaign, which is at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), said Mr. Ban. The 17 global goals offer a 15-year plan to reduce need and vulnerability, promoting a world of peace, dignity and opportunity for all.”

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=54711#.V7jUT_krKM9

Would You Rather? Take the Humanitarian Quiz

https://worldhumanitarianday.org/

This week’s post is focused on youth, peace and security and the reintegration efforts for former child soldiers and children affected by armed conflict.

Secretary-General Nominates Lead Author and Advisory Group for Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security

“Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon today appointed Graeme Simpson (South Africa) as lead author for the Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security, as well as 21 experts who will form an advisory group and work in close collaboration with him.

“In December of 2015, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2250 (2015) on Youth, Peace and Security. Resolution 2250 (2015) is the first resolution to recognize the important and positive role young women and men play in the maintenance and promotion of international peace and security.

“The resolution requests the Secretary-General “to carry out a progress study on the youth’s positive contribution to peace processes and conflict resolution, in order to recommend effective responses at local, national, regional and international levels.”

http://www.un.org/youthenvoy/2016/08/secretary-general-nominates-lead-author-advisory-group-progress-study-youth-peace-security/

Ban announces new initiatives to enhance UN's work with and for world's youth

“Mr. Ban used the opportunity provided by International Youth Day, celebrated annually on 12 August, to announce the new steps to advance peace, promote employment and tackle poverty. Indeed, in his message on the day, he said: “Young people are directly affected by the tragic contradictions that prevail today: between abject poverty and ostentatious wealth, gnawing hunger and shameful food waste, rich natural resources and polluting industries.”

“... UN chief announced a new Special Envoy for Youth Employment, the former Chancellor of Austria, Werner Faymann. With more than 70 million youths unemployed worldwide, the new official will aim to help tackle the challenge posed by the fact that young people have all the skills and energy needed to contribute to society – but they lack opportunities for decent work.”

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=54679#.V7jV-PkrKM-

Youth peace entrepreneurs in Pakistan

“'Peace entrepreneur' initiatives are both innovative, and offer the sustainability which often emerges from locally-led projects. With this in mind, [Zahid Shahab Ahmed] recently investigated the story of Ali Raza Khan and his organisation, the YES Network Pakistan.”

https://www.insightonconflict.org/blog/2016/08/youth-peace-entrepreneurs-pakistan/

Good news! Sierra Leone launches African Union campaign on child marriage

“Yesterday [August 17], the Republic of Sierra Leone became the 15th country to launch the African Union campaign to end child marriage in Africa, ramping up its efforts to end a practice that affects 39% of girls in the country.”

http://www.girlsnotbrides.org/sierra-leone-launches-au-campaign-on-child-marriage/

MABESIKAN: ART FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

“To end all forms of violence and make a lasting positive impact on the life of the Balinese people, [Search for Common Ground’s] Indonesia team started a project called Mabesikan: Art for Social Change, which focuses on the use of popular art forms.” 

https://www.sfcg.org/mabesikan-art-social-change/

Reintegrating Child Soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo

http://unfoundationblog.org/reintegrating-child-soldiers-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo/

USING RADIO TO TALK ABOUT REINTEGRATION OF CHILDREN BORN OF WAR

“The talk show was organized by the representative of the Iteso Cultural Union and Teso Kumi Women’s Peace Initiative to create awareness of the challenges that children born of war are facing and lobby for support from the community about their reintegration. It was also used as a platform to engage the communities on the challenges that war affected women are facing in the community such as stigma, lack of access to land and the ongoing suffering they face in taking care of the children and break silence around these issues. This was aimed at ensuring communal acceptance of children born of war and their mothers.”

Countdown to World Haemophilia Day 2016 continues #WHD2016

To mark World Haemophilia Day (17 April) this year, the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) are launching a series of videos about their humanitarian work around the world. In this first, introductory video, they stress that there is more to their work than trying to take the clotting factor treatments that are available in the…