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Long-run trends in military spending and personnel: four key facts from new data

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Do most countries devote resources to maintain armies even when they are not immersed in a critical conflict? How are military capabilities changing in the 21st century?

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Infographic: Women’s meaningful participation builds peace

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Women’s full and equal participation at all levels of society is a fundamental human right. During times of conflict, women’s participation in resolving conflict and negotiating peace is especially important to ensure that women’s rights are protected, experiences are recognized, and that peace lasts.

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Thirty years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Achieving gender equality, the rights and empowerment of women and girls | UN Women – Headquarters

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As the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action approaches, global leaders, activists, youth, civil society organizations and other stakeholders gathered on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly to discuss and shape the global gender equality agenda at a high-level event, “Beijing+30: Achieving Gender Equality, Rights and Empowerment for All Women and Girls” at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

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Thirty years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Achieving gender equality, the rights and empowerment of women and girls | UN Women – Headquarters

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As the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action approaches, global leaders, activists, youth, civil society organizations and other stakeholders gathered on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly to discuss and shape the global gender equality agenda at a high-level event, “Beijing+30: Achieving Gender Equality, Rights and Empowerment for All Women and Girls” at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

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Date : 03 March 2020
Originally published on Medium.com/@UN_Women
BREAKING NEWS: We found a country that has achieved gender equality!

In Equiterra all people have equal rights and opportunities, regardless of their gender. Women and girls feel safe when walking at night. They get paid equally as men, for work of equal value.

Men and women share chores and care duties at home, and they can access high quality care at affordable rates. Isn't that fabulous!

No one is talking about 'at least 30 per cent' quota for women in political leadership in Equiterra anymore-men and women are equally represented in political offices, corporate boardrooms and factory floors. Women have equal say in decisions that affect their lives, their bodies, their policies, and their environment. Girls are as valued as boys are, and people of all gender and sexuality feel safe and equal.

This is what gender equality looks like. Join us for a tour of its bustling capital!

Reality check

Equiterra exists only in our imagination, but it's a place that we can all aspire to build.

To date, no country in the world has achieved gender equality.

Twenty-five years ago, 193 countries came together at the Fourth World Conference on Women and promised to take measures that guaranteed gender equality. They signed on to the most comprehensive global roadmap to destination "gender equality", the Beijing Platform for Action. There has been a lot of progress since then, but many of the promises are yet to be fulfilled.

1. Unstereotype Avenue

If you ask a little girl walking along Unstereotype Avenue what she wants to be when she grows up, she could tell you I can be anything: a scientist, an engineer, a supreme court judge, an Olympic champion, an artist or astronaut-not even the sky is the limit when it comes to dreaming big.

The word stereotype has lost its meaning in this country. People root for the girl who wants to be a professional football player, not question her capabilities. Teachers encourage all of their students to choose STEM fields instead of assuming that girls wouldn't be interested in them.

In Equiterra, diversity is celebrated, not feared, and a culture of acceptance dominates the hearts and minds.

2. Violence-Free Alley

In Violence-Free Alley, two women are walking along, discussing their days at work.

"They were respectful, and I was fully heard in that meeting today," says one.

"Me Too," says the other.

In Equiterra, it is women's shared experiences of empowerment and equality that often bring them together, rather than shared experiences of sexual harassment and abuse.

They don't face persistent sexual harassment at work or when walking on the streets. They aren't taught to walk with their keys between their fingers in case they are attacked or worry about being judged for the clothes they wear. There is no such thing as femicide, women are valued and respected here.

Domestic violence is a rare occurrence, because there are strong laws against it and services to support victims. Since gender equality is the norm, the power dynamics between intimate partners are not oppressive or toxic.

3. Equal pay street

On Equal Pay Street (and everywhere else in Equiterra) there's no question that women and men are being paid equally for work of equal value. There are no systemic barriers that hold women back and since they are encouraged to pursue careers across all sectors, there is no 'women's work' or 'men's work'. Women stay in the pipeline and become leaders across industries.

With care work and household responsibilities shared equally, women don't have to worry about their family choices interfering with the way they are perceived at work and limiting their ability to progress.

There's unified parental leave across all sectors. Fathers take parental leave as mothers do and enjoy caring for their children. Employers allow flexible arrangements for those who have care responsibilities.

Also, in Equiterra minimum wages are set to provide decent income and there is quality and affordable care available for those who need it. As a result, men and women can equally contribute towards a thriving economy and children are happy and healthy.

4. Toxic Masculinity Recycling Plant

Just like in every civilization, citizens of Equiterra are affected by the human history, including patriarchal ideas of gender roles and what it means to be a boy or a girl, a woman or a man, a transgender person or a gender-nonconforming person.

Instead of conforming to these historical gendered stereotypes that have restricted men and women for generations, people of Equiterra question toxic masculinity. In the Toxic Masculinity Recycling Plant, through innovative dialogues and learning, toxic behaviours are transformed into attitudes that perpetuate gender equality.

For instance, expectations such as, men and boys shouldn't show emotion, or that they are naturally aggressive, have been transformed into healthier attitudes that respect every person's right to live as their true self, with their full range of emotions, dreams and capabilities. Binary definitions of gender turn into a spectrum of gender identity and expression.

Freed from oppressive gender roles, people of Equiterra are not held back by dominant forms of masculinity, and they are happier and mentally healthier than any other society.

5. Inclusion square

Two men stand together, watching their son play on the jungle gym. He's made friends with a child in a wheelchair, and another little girl. They're playing pretend: they're all knights guarding their castle against imaginary enemies.

Inclusion square is where families and friends meet to relax and spend time outside. Anyone and everyone can enjoy the space: It's accessible for those living with disability; people don't feel judged or discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation, race, religion or socioeconomic standing. Here, everyone feels welcome and included. Here, everyone is safe and able to enjoy themselves.

6. Climate Action Street

In Equiterra there are no deniers of climate change. Everyone does their part to protect the earth and takes action to stop rising temperatures and the destruction of resources. Along Climate Action Street, you'll see recycling and compost bins. There is sustainable and safe public transport that reduces the need for everyone to own and use cars. Sustainable, recycled fashion is the rage here, limiting waste.

And, you see women leading the charge, in equal footing with men. Women leaders in business and government have been key actors in making the policies that are protecting the environment. With the inclusion of women's experiences, talent and perspectives, Equiterra has found new ways of sustainably reducing the country's carbon footprint and food waste.

7. Equal Representation Avenue

Along Equal Representation Avenue are some of the most important institutions: government headquarters, leading businesses, and a major newspaper office and TV station.

They all have gender balanced leadership. The Parliament has equal representation of women and men, and the boardrooms show women and men of diversity working towards common goals. In the media, you don't see harmful stereotypes and sexism.

8. Education Boulevard

In Equiterra, education is a top priority. On the school grounds, you see young girls and boys reading history books that include stories of both women and men who have shaped their communities and culture.

Children attend school without worrying about their safety, and girls and boys share chores at home. They have access to all the books and technology they need to learn and grow.

Girls are taught science and math without the presumption that it's not for them. Boys learn humanities and art and learn the importance of gender equality. There's no such thing as child marriage that pulls girls out of school to become brides.

9. Freedom Avenue

Freedom is one of the guiding principles of life in Equiterra. Freedom of expression and movement, freedom to choose your identity, and freedom to choose how many children you have and to have control over your own body.

Along Freedom Avenue are the resources to guide some of these choices. Here, you will find access to safe, voluntary family planning information. Comprehensive education about sexuality and sexual and reproductive health and rights is part of the school curricula and available to everyone.

In Equiterra since everyone is empowered to access such information and services, couples and individuals can plan if and when and how many children they want to have, women can complete their education, pursue their careers and enjoy better health. They are leaders in shaping health policies and budgets that affect their lives.

Every woman or girl, whether young or old, can get HIV testing and treatment without stigma or discrimination. In Equite rra, public health systems are fully funded and staffed, user-fees are a thing of the past.

Now that you have seen Equiterra join #GenerationEquality to make this a reality in your family, community and country

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Welcome to Equiterra, where gender equality is real

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BREAKING NEWS: We found a country that has achieved gender equality! In Equiterra all people have equal rights and opportunities, regardless of their gender. Women and girls feel safe when walking at night. They get paid equally as men, for work of equal value. Men and women share chores and

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The Sustainable Development Report 2023 tracks the performance of all 193 UN Member States on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

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The next global health crisis might not be another pandemic caused by a novel respiratory infection. Instead, we could see climate change dramatically increasing the threat from an existing infectious disease-for example, malaria, a disease that kills one child every minute of every day.

Malaria, like other vector-borne diseases, reacts quickly to changes in climate, with epidemiology of the disease evolving rapidly in response to shifting rainfall patterns and warmer temperatures. Already we are seeing malaria cases at higher altitudes in places like Ethiopia and Kenya, where up to now low temperatures offered protection from mosquitoes. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events, such as violent cyclones and unforeseen floods, lead to sudden surges in malaria infections and deaths. After the devastating floods in Pakistan, malaria infections more than quadrupled. Despite massive efforts, including additional emergency funding from the Global Fund, deaths from malaria soared, far exceeding the number of people who died from drowning or otherwise directly from the floods. Countries like Malawi and Mozambique, hit by Cyclone Freddy in February 2023, know that the floods and stagnant water resulting from such a storm create ideal locations for mosquitoes to breed and can quickly lead to sharp increases in malaria cases.

As always, it's the poorest and most vulnerable who are the most exposed to such dynamics. There's already an almost perfect overlap between the communities designated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as "highly vulnerable to effects of climate change" and those most heavily hit by malaria. Ninety-five percent of malaria infections and 96% of malaria deaths occur in the World Health Organization's Africa Region. Children under 5 account for over 80% of deaths, with pregnant women being the most at-risk adults.

Influenced by these environmental changes, we are also seeing shifts in where different species of mosquito live and thrive. For example, Anopheles stephensi, until recently found largely in Asia, has now been identified across multiple parts of Africa. The Anopheles stephensi species adapts more easily to urban conditions than most mosquitoes, and unlike the Anopheles species currently most prevalent in Africa, can carry both types of malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. So malaria control programs in Africa now have to contend with both a new mosquito and a new malaria parasite.

Of course, climate change is not the only challenge. We are also encountering increasing resistance of malaria-carrying mosquitoes to existing pyrethroid-based insecticides and increasing resistance of malaria parasites to existing artemisinin-based treatments. While there are alternatives, such as dual active ingredient bed nets, these are all more costly.

Conflicts also increase the cost of providing lifesaving health services. Whether in Mali, South Sudan or Myanmar, conflict makes it much more difficult and expensive to fight malaria.

Confronted with such a perfect storm of simultaneous challenges, we face a frightening risk of seeing many of the hard-won gains of the last two decades of fighting malaria rolled back, with infections and death rising across the world, in places already hard hit, in those that thought they were rid of the disease, and in places that never suffered from it.

We cannot let this happen. For a disease like malaria, global warming is like pouring gasoline on a fire. Of course, we must do whatever we can to slow or stop the pace of climate change. But we should also douse the fire. With more money and accelerated introduction of the latest innovations in vector control, diagnosis and treatment, we could drastically reduce the potential for climate change and resistance to cause an explosion in malaria infections and deaths.

Investment in more effective and resilient systems for health is key. Disease surveillance systems, laboratory networks, supply chains and community health workers are vital to defeating malaria. Such capacities and infrastructure are also key to detecting and responding to any future pathogen of pandemic potential. Defeating malaria is not an alternative to investing in better pandemic preparedness, but a path towards it, and one that has the extra benefit of saving hundreds of thousands of children's lives.

Defeating malaria is also one of the most powerful ways to create greater capacity in rural health systems to counter other diseases. In many rural parts of Africa, malaria already overwhelms local health system capacities. Yet where malaria has been successfully reduced, the same community health facilities are able to step up on other critical services, such as maternal health or chronic diseases like diabetes or heart disease.

For the last two decades, World Malaria Day has been an occasion to celebrate the progress we have made against one of the longest-lasting and deadliest pandemics that humanity has ever faced. Yet this year, it was an occasion to raise the alarm. With climate change and resistance, the fight against malaria will get much more difficult, so now is the time to act decisively-before malaria, arguably our oldest pandemic, becomes the next pandemic to threaten us all.
This op-ed was first published in Forbes.

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Felled by a Warming World: Will Malaria Be the Next Pandemic?

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The next global health crisis might not be another pandemic caused by a novel respiratory infection. Instead, we could see climate change dramatically increasing the threat from an existing infectious disease-for example, malaria, a disease that kills one child every minute of every day.

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CIA Factbook

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CIA’s World Factbook is your authoritative source on the world’s countries, territories, oceans, and more. Explore world facts at your fingertips.

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Worldwide, the UHC service coverage index has increased by ▲ 23 /100 from 45 /100 in 2000 to 68 /100 in 2021.

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A roadmap for a new decade of sustainability in FAO | Corporate Environmental Responsibility | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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The new strategy was inaugurated at a launch event on May 24th 2021. The event was opened by FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, to give proper credence to the new strategy, and to memorialize its introduction and acceptance at the highest levels of FAO.

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Background | Corporate Environmental Responsibility | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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2000: The UN launches its Global Compact in 2000 as a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

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A green economy is defined as low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. In a green economy, growth in employment and income are driven by public and private investment into such economic activities, infrastructure and assets that allow reduced carbon emissions and pollution, enhanced energy and resource efficiency, and prevention of the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

These green investments need to be enabled and supported through targeted public expenditure, policy reforms and changes in taxation and regulation. UN Environment promotes a development path that understands natural capital as a critical economic asset and a source of public benefits, especially for poor people whose livelihoods depend on natural resources. The notion of green economy does not replace sustainable development, but creates a new focus on the economy, investment, capital and infrastructure, employment and skills and positive social and environmental outcomes across Asia and the Pacific.

Green Economy
The role of Green Economy, Sustainable Consumption and Production and Resource Efficiency for Sustainable Development: Sustainable Consumption and Production aims to improve production processes and consumption practices to reduce resource consumption, waste generation and emissions across the full life cycle of processes and products - while Resource Efficiency refers to the ways in which resources are used to deliver value to society and aims to reduce the amount of resources needed, and emissions and waste generated, per unit of product or service. The Green Economy provides a macro-economic approach to sustainable economic growth with a central focus on investments, employment and skills.

The three main areas for the current work on Green Economy are:

1) Advocacy of macro-economic approach to sustainable economic growth through regional, sub-regional and national fora

2) Demonstration of Green Economy approaches with a central focus on access to green finance, technology and investments

3) Support to countries in terms of development and mainstreaming of macro-economic policies to support the transition to a Green Economy

The UN Environment is supporting Mongolia in the implementation of the National Green Development Policy, integration of green economy into local level development plans, Sustainable Development Goals indicators and greening of key sectors
Partnerships
Multi-stakeholder partnerships for the promotion of a Green Economy are supported to accelerate and consolidate sustainable changes in both consumption and production patterns. In addition to Governments and not-for-profit organizations, UN Environment has increased its engagement with the private sector - which is a very important actor in promoting resource efficiency and green economy.

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A green economy is defined as low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. In a green economy, growth in employment and income are driven by public and private investment into such economic activities, infrastructure and assets that allow reduced carbon emissions and pollution, enhanced energy and resource efficiency, and prevention of the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

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Corporate Environmental Responsibility | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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FAO’s Work on Corporate Environmental Responsibility

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Brent Loken: Can we create the "perfect" farm?

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About 10,000 years ago, humans began to farm. This agricultural revolution was a turning point in our history and enabled the existence of civilization. Today, nearly 40 percent of our planet is farmland. Spread all over the world, these lands are the pieces to a global puzzle we're all facing: in the future, how can we feed every member of a growing population a healthy diet?

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What FAO does about Green Cities Initiatives

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GCI will assist cities to identify and develop strategies tailored to their context, contributing to green urban regeneration, increasing health and well-being of urban and peri-urban population, supporting mitigation and adaptation to climate shocks and minimization of the carbon footprint, strengthening urban-rural linkages, and promoting sustainable urban development.

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The United Nations agency working to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.

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General Assembly Pledges Improved Response to Global Health Challenges, Adopting Declarations on Pandemic Prevention, Universal Coverage, Fighting Tuberculosis | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases

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The General Assembly today committed to tackle several major global health challenges, adopting three declarations that laid out measures to better prepare for and respond to pandemics, give everyone access to health coverage and care for people suffering from tuberculosis.

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Good health is essential to sustained economic and social development and poverty reduction. Access to needed health services is crucial for maintaining and improving health. At the same time, people need to be protected from being pushed into poverty because of the cost of health care.

Universal health coverage is defined as ensuring that all people have access to needed health services (including prevention, promotion, treatment, rehabilitation and palliation) of sufficient quality to be effective while also ensuring that the use of these services does not expose the user the financial hardship. Universal health coverage has therefore become a major goal for health reform in many countries and a priority objective of WHO.

Related topics

Highlights

If you have any feedback, you are welcome to write it here.

If you need to access the old Global Health Observatory data, you can do it here. But before you leave, please provide us your feedback about our new data portal.

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Good health is essential to sustained economic and social development and poverty reduction. Access to needed health services is crucial for maintaining and improving health. At the same time, people need to be protected from being pushed into poverty because of the cost of health care.

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The world is off track to make significant progress towards universal health coverage (Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target 3.8) by 2030. Improvements to health services coverage have stagnated since 2015, and the proportion of the population that faced catastrophic levels of out-of-pocket health spending increased continuously since 2000. This global pattern is consistent across all regions and the majority of countries.

The UHC service coverage index increased from 45 to 68 between 2000 and 2021. However, recent progress in increasing coverage has slowed compared to pre-2015 gains, rising only 3 index points between 2015 and 2021 and showing no change since 2019.

The proportion of the population not covered by essential health services decreased by about 15% between 2000 and 2021, with minimal progress made after 2015. This indicates that in 2021, about 4.5 billion people were not fully covered by essential health services.

About 2 billion people are facing financial hardship including 1 billion experiencing catastrophic out-of-pocket health spending (SDG indicator 3.8.2) or 344 million people going deeper into extreme poverty due to health costs.

The COVID-19 pandemic further disrupted essential services in 92% of countries at the height of the pandemic in 2021. In 2022, 84% of countries still reported disruptions.

To build back better, WHO's recommendation is to reorient health systems using a primary health care (PHC) approach. Most (90%) of essential UHC interventions can be delivered through a PHC approach, potentially saving 60 million lives and increasing average global life expectancy by 3.7 years by 2030.

Overview

Universal health coverage (UHC) means that all people have access to the full range of quality health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. It covers the full continuum of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care across the life course.

The delivery of these services requires health and care workers with an optimal skills mix at all levels of the health system, who are equitably distributed, adequately supported with access to quality assured products, and enjoying decent work.

Protecting people from the financial consequences of paying for health services out of their own pockets reduces the risk that people will be pushed into poverty because the cost of needed services and treatments requires them to use up their life savings, sell assets, or borrow - destroying their futures and often those of their children.

Achieving UHC is one of the targets the nations of the world set when they adopted the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. At the United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on UHC in 2019, countries reaffirmed that health is a precondition for and an outcome and indicator of the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. WHO's Thirteenth General Programme of Work aims to have 1 billion more people benefit from UHC by 2025, while also contributing to the targets of 1 billion more people better protected from health emergencies and 1 billion more people enjoying better health and well-being.

Progress towards UHC

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, progress towards UHC was already faltering. The impressive pace of progress in expanding service coverage prior to 2015 did not continue as the UHC service coverage index (SDG indicator 3.8.1) increased only 3 points to 68 by 2019 and stagnated at this level through 2021. This indicates that in 2021, about 4.5 billion people were not fully covered by essential health services. The portion of the population incurring catastrophic out-of-pocket health spending (SDG 3.8.2) increased continuously from 9.6% in 2000 to 13.5% in 2019 when it surpassed 1 billion people. Moreover, in 2019, out-of-pocket health spending dragged 344 million people further into extreme poverty and 1.3 billion into relative poverty. In total, in 2019, 2 billion people faced any form of financial hardship (catastrophic, impoverishing or both).

The global pattern of the recent stagnating progress in service coverage while catastrophic health spending increases continuously is consistent across all regions, country income groups and most countries at all income levels.

Inequalities continue to be a fundamental challenge for UHC. Even where there is national progress on health service coverage, the aggregate data mask inequalities within-countries. For example, coverage of reproductive, maternal, child and adolescent health services tends to be higher among those who are richer, more educated, and living in urban areas, especially in low-income countries. On financial hardship, catastrophic out-of-pocket health spending is more prevalent among people living in households with older members (age 60 years or over). People living in poorer households, rural areas and in households with older family members (those aged 60 and older) are more likely to be further dragged into poverty by out-of-pocket health spending. Monitoring health inequalities is essential to identify and track disadvantaged populations to provide decision-makers with an evidence base to formulate more equity-oriented policies, programmes and practices towards the progressive realization of UHC. Better data are also needed on gender inequalities, socioeconomic disadvantages, and specific issues faced by indigenous peoples and refugee and migrant populations displaced by conflict and economic and environmental crises.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, essential services were disrupted in 92% of countries. In 2022, 84% of countries still reported disruptions. In 2021, some 25 million children under 5 years missed out on routine immunization. There were glaring disparities in access to COVID-19 vaccines, with an average of 34% of the population vaccinated in low-income countries compared to almost 73% in high-income countries as of June 2023. Potentially life-saving emergency, critical and operative care interventions also showed increased service disruptions, likely resulting in significant near-term impact on health outcomes.

As a foundation for and way to move towards UHC, WHO recommends reorienting health systems using a primary health care (PHC) approach. PHC is the most inclusive, equitable, cost-effective and efficient approach to enhance people's physical and mental health, as well as social well-being. It enables universal, integrated access to health services as close as possible to people's everyday environments. It also helps deliver the full range of quality services and products that people need for health and well-being, thereby improving coverage and financial protection. Significant cost efficiencies can be achieved and most (90%) essential UHC interventions can be delivered through a PHC approach. Some 75% of the projected health gains from the SDGs could also be realized through PHC, including saving over 60 million lives and increasing average global life expectancy by 3.7 years by 2030.

Strengthening health systems based on PHC should result in measurable health impact in countries.

Can UHC be measured?

Yes.

The UHC target of the SDGs measures the ability of countries to ensure that everyone receives the health care they need, when and where they need it, without facing financial hardship. It covers the full continuum of key services from health promotion to prevention, protection, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care. Progress on UHC is tracked using two indicators:

coverage of essential health services (SDG 3.8.1); and

catastrophic health spending (and related indicators) (SDG 3.8.2).

More information can be found in a Q&A available here.

Detailed data is provided in the WHO Global Health Observatory Data Repository for UHC. Country profiles can be downloaded from https://data.who.int/.

Based on this data, WHO publishes global reports on UHC every two years. See the reports here.

WHO response

UHC is firmly based on the 1948 WHO Constitution, which declares health a fundamental human right and commits to ensuring the highest attainable level of health for all.

As a foundation for UHC, WHO recommends reorienting health systems towards primary health care (PHC). In countries with fragile health systems, WHO focuses on technical assistance to build national institutions and service delivery to fill critical gaps in emergencies. In more robust health system settings, WHO drives public health impact towards health coverage for all through policy dialogue for the systems of the future and strategic support to improve performance.

But WHO is not alone: WHO works with many different partners in different situations and for different purposes to advance UHC around the world.

Some of WHO's partnerships include:

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Fact sheet on Universal health coverage (UHC): key facts, what is UHC, benefits of implementing UHC and WHO response

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The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, commonly known as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

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VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES to support the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security

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The objective of the Voluntary Guidelines is to provide practical guidance to States in their implementation of the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security, in order to achieve the goals of the World Food Summit Plan of Action. They provide an additional instrument to combat hunger and poverty and to accelerate attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. The Voluntary Guidelines represent the first attempt by governments to interpret an economic, social and cultural right and to recommend actions to be undertaken for its realization. Moreover, they represent a step towards integrating human rights into the work of agencies dealing with food and agriculture.

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Water scarcity already affects every continent. Around 1.2 billion people, or almost one-fifth of the world's population, live in areas of physical scarcity, and 500 million people are approaching this situation. Another 1.6 billion people, or almost one quarter of the world's population, face economic water shortage (where countries lack the necessary infrastructure to take water from rivers and aquifers).

Water scarcity is among the main problems to be faced by many societies and the World in the XXIst century. Water use has been growing at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century, and, although there is no global water scarcity as such, an increasing number of regions are chronically short of water.

Water scarcity is both a natural and a human-made phenomenon. There is enough freshwater on the planet for seven billion people but it is distributed unevenly and too much of it is wasted, polluted and unsustainably managed.

Sources:

Human Development Report 2006. UNDP, 2006

Coping with water scarcity. Challenge of the twenty-first century. UN-Water, FAO, 2007

The way water scarcity issues are addressed impacts upon the successful achievement of most of the Millennium Development Goals:

MDG 1: Access to water for domestic and productive uses (agriculture, industry, and other economic activities) has a direct impact on poverty and food security.

MDG 2: Incidence of catastrophic but often recurrent events, such as droughts, interrupts educational attainment.

MDG 3: Access to water, in particular in conditions of scarce resources, has important gender related implications, which affects the social and economic capital of women in terms of leadership, earnings and networking opportunities.

MDGs 4 and 5: Equitable, reliable water resources management programmes reduce poor people's vulnerability to shocks, which in turn gives them more secure and fruitful livelihoods to draw upon in caring for their children.

MDG 6: Access to water, and improved water and wastewater management in human settlements, reduce transmission risks of mosquito-borne illnesses, such as malaria and dengue fever.

MDG 7: Adequate treatment of wastewater contributes to less pressure on freshwater resources, helping to protect human and environmental health.

MDG 8: Water scarcity increasingly calls for strengthened international cooperation in the fields of technologies for enhanced water productivity, financing opportunities, and an improved environment to share the benefits of scarce water management.

Hydrologists typically assess scarcity by looking at the population-water equation. An area is experiencing water stress when annual water supplies drop below 1,700 m3 per person. When annual water supplies drop below 1,000 m3 per person, the population faces water scarcity, and below 500 cubic metres "absolute scarcity".

Water scarcity is defined as the point at which the aggregate impact of all users impinges on the supply or quality of water under prevailing institutional arrangements to the extent that the demand by all sectors, including the environment, cannot be satisfied fully. Water scarcity is a relative concept and can occur at any level of supply or demand. Scarcity may be a social construct (a product of affluence, expectations and customary behaviour) or the consequence of altered supply patterns - stemming from climate change for example.

Around 700 million people in 43 countries suffer today from water scarcity.

By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world's population could be living under water stressed conditions.

With the existing climate change scenario, almost half the world's population will be living in areas of high water stress by 2030, including between 75 million and 250 million people in Africa. In addition, water scarcity in some arid and semi-arid places will displace between 24 million and 700 million people.

Sub-Saharan Africa has the largest number of water-stressed countries of any region.

World Water Day 2007: Coping with water scarcity
World Water Day 2007 was dedicated to the theme "Coping with water scarcity". It highlighted the increasing significance of water scarcity worldwide and the need for increased integration and cooperation to ensure sustainable, efficient and equitable management of scarce water resources, both at international and local levels.

World Day to Combat Desertification 2013
The theme of the 2013 World Day to Combat Desertification is drought and water scarcity. This year's slogan, "Don't let our future dry up", calls for everyone to take action to promote preparedness and resilience to water scarcity, desertification and drought. The slogan embodies the message that we are all responsible for water and land conservation and sustainable use, and that there are solutions to these serious natural resource challenges.

Desertification, the invisible frontline
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). January 2014
This publication examines desertification as a cause of global conflict and instability and calls for urgent action to support communities in crisis. It explores the impacts desertification has on the lives of many under the titles: Food (in)security - farming ourselves into extinction; Water (in)security - water scarcity triggers conflicts; Climate - changing the face of the earth changes the humanity; Migration - fight or flee; National Security - breaking down; Inaction, recipe for International Political and Economic chaos; Securitizing productive land - securing peace and stability; Investing in large scale restoration initiatives; Drought management measures; Institutional reforms; and culminates with Taking action now, a summary on what we can do now, to secure a future capable of dealing with drought risk.

Coping with water scarcity. An action framework for agriculture and food security
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). August 2012
This report focuses on the importance of the drylands issue on the global agenda and its relation to other issues, including climate change, food security and human settlements. The report illustrates the many ways in which the UN system is identifying opportunities to mainstream the drylands agenda into the policy-making process. It sets out a common vision and agenda for UN-wide action on dryland management and its role in addressing climate change and food security through a positive development and investment approach. The report is aimed at a number of audiences, with certain objectives: (1) UN agencies themselves, to clarify the commitment made to drylands and act as a reference guide; (2) Governments of developed and developing countries, as a normative guide on the UN's position on, and commitment to, the development of drylands; (3) The private sector and donors, to encourage and inspire them to think about the viability and unique opportunities presented by drylands, and (4) Civil society, to encourage advocacy on the development of drylands, and empowerment of their populations.

Global Drylands: A UN system-wide response
United Nations Environment Management Group. October 2011
This report focuses on the importance of the drylands issue on the global agenda and its relation to other issues, including climate change, food security and human settlements. The report illustrates the many ways in which the UN system is identifying opportunities to mainstream the drylands agenda into the policy-making process. It sets out a common vision and agenda for UN-wide action on dryland management and its role in addressing climate change and food security through a positive development and investment approach. The report is aimed at a number of audiences, with certain objectives: (1) UN agencies themselves, to clarify the commitment made to drylands and act as a reference guide; (2) Governments of developed and developing countries, as a normative guide on the UN's position on, and commitment to, the development of drylands; (3) The private sector and donors, to encourage and inspire them to think about the viability and unique opportunities presented by drylands, and (4) Civil society, to encourage advocacy on the development of drylands, and empowerment of their populations.

>> Access most recent publications on Water Scarcity from the UN Documentation Centre on Water and Sanitation
Making the Most of Scarcity. Accountability for Better Water Management Results in the Middle East and North Africa
[ - 428 MB]
Executive summary [ - 141 KB]
World Bank. 2007
This report addresses the issues of the political economy of water reform and stresses the importance of "beyond the sector" policies. It analyzes the factors that drive the political economy of water reform and shows how some of them are changing in the MENA region in ways that could open up opportunities for water reform. The report discusses how the challenges and opportunities of the increasingly global economy may change the dynamics of water policy and how the changing demographics of the region (such as rapid urbanization, and increased education levels) might affect demand for water services.

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Water scarcity | International Decade for Action 'Water for Life' 2005-2015

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Water scarcity already affects every continent. Around 1.2 billion people, or almost one-fifth of the world's population, live in areas of physical scarcity, and 500 million people are approaching this situation. Another 1.6 billion people, or almost one quarter of the world's population, face economic water shortage (where countries lack the necessary infrastructure to take water from rivers and aquifers).

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Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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Sustainable soil management:  A major step in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

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Water use has been growing globally at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century, and an increasing number of regions are reaching the limit at which water services can be sustainably delivered. Essentially, demographic growth and economic development are putting unprecedented pressure on renewable, but finite water resources, especially in arid regions. By 2025, 1800 million people are expected to be living in countries or regions with "absolute" water scarcity (<500 m3 per year per capita), and two-thirds of the world population could be under "stress" conditions (between 500 and 1000 m3 per year per capita). The situation will be exacerbated as rapidly growing urban areas place heavy pressure on neighbouring water resources. Moreover, environmental services and ecosystem functions cannot be treated any longer as the residuals of all water users. In the future, climate change and bio-energy demands are expected to amplify the already complex relationship between world development and water demand.

The concept of scarcity is somewhat ambiguous and complex to be defined as it implies different dimensions or facets. First, scarcity needs to be understood as a relative concept, i.e., an imbalance between "supply" and "demand" that varies according to local conditions. Second, water scarcity is fundamentally dynamic. It intensifies with increasing demand by users and with the decreasing quantity and quality of the resource. It can further decrease when the right response options are put in place.

There are several dimensions of water scarcity that can be summarized as
follows: (i) scarcity in availability of fresh water of acceptable quality with respect to aggregated demand, in the simple case of physical water shortage; (ii) scarcity to water services, because of the failure of institutions in place to ensure reliable supply of water to users; (iii) scarcity due to the lack of adequate infrastructure, irrespective of the level of water resources, due to financial constraints. In the last two cases, countries may have a relatively high level of water resources endowment, but are unable to capture and distribute them because of limited financial resources for infrastructure development or lack of institutional capacity to maintain and manage them appropriately.

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Water Scarcity | Land & Water | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | Land & Water | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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Water use has been growing globally at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century, and an increasing number of regions are reaching the limit at which water services can be sustainably delivered. Essentially, demographic growth and economic development are putting unprecedented pressure on renewable, but finite water resources, especially in arid regions.

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Women are entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of all of their human rights and to be free from all forms of discrimination.

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Coming soon to Internet Explorer 8. This web is currently best experienced in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or IE 10+.

Throughout history, women have made extraordinary contributions to their societies. Some are well known, some less so, but all have been trail blazers.

Explore a small selection of these women and learn what the reality still is today for many women and girls worldwide.

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Throughout history, women have made extraordinary contributions. Explore a selection of these women and learn what the reality is today for many women and girls.

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Women's equal participation and leadership in political and public life are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. However, data show that women are underrepresented at all levels of decision-making worldwide and that achieving gender parity in political life is far off.

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Facts and figures: Women's leadership and political participation

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Women's equal participation and leadership in political and public life are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. However, data show that women are underrepresented at all levels of decision-making worldwide and that achieving gender parity in political life is far off.

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Date : 03 March 2020
Originally published on Medium.com/@UN_Women
BREAKING NEWS: We found a country that has achieved gender equality!

In Equiterra all people have equal rights and opportunities, regardless of their gender. Women and girls feel safe when walking at night. They get paid equally as men, for work of equal value.

Men and women share chores and care duties at home, and they can access high quality care at affordable rates. Isn't that fabulous!

No one is talking about 'at least 30 per cent' quota for women in political leadership in Equiterra anymore-men and women are equally represented in political offices, corporate boardrooms and factory floors. Women have equal say in decisions that affect their lives, their bodies, their policies, and their environment. Girls are as valued as boys are, and people of all gender and sexuality feel safe and equal.

This is what gender equality looks like. Join us for a tour of its bustling capital!

Reality check

Equiterra exists only in our imagination, but it's a place that we can all aspire to build.

To date, no country in the world has achieved gender equality.

Twenty-five years ago, 193 countries came together at the Fourth World Conference on Women and promised to take measures that guaranteed gender equality. They signed on to the most comprehensive global roadmap to destination "gender equality", the Beijing Platform for Action. There has been a lot of progress since then, but many of the promises are yet to be fulfilled.

1. Unstereotype Avenue

If you ask a little girl walking along Unstereotype Avenue what she wants to be when she grows up, she could tell you I can be anything: a scientist, an engineer, a supreme court judge, an Olympic champion, an artist or astronaut-not even the sky is the limit when it comes to dreaming big.

The word stereotype has lost its meaning in this country. People root for the girl who wants to be a professional football player, not question her capabilities. Teachers encourage all of their students to choose STEM fields instead of assuming that girls wouldn't be interested in them.

In Equiterra, diversity is celebrated, not feared, and a culture of acceptance dominates the hearts and minds.

2. Violence-Free Alley

In Violence-Free Alley, two women are walking along, discussing their days at work.

"They were respectful, and I was fully heard in that meeting today," says one.

"Me Too," says the other.

In Equiterra, it is women's shared experiences of empowerment and equality that often bring them together, rather than shared experiences of sexual harassment and abuse.

They don't face persistent sexual harassment at work or when walking on the streets. They aren't taught to walk with their keys between their fingers in case they are attacked or worry about being judged for the clothes they wear. There is no such thing as femicide, women are valued and respected here.

Domestic violence is a rare occurrence, because there are strong laws against it and services to support victims. Since gender equality is the norm, the power dynamics between intimate partners are not oppressive or toxic.

3. Equal pay street

On Equal Pay Street (and everywhere else in Equiterra) there's no question that women and men are being paid equally for work of equal value. There are no systemic barriers that hold women back and since they are encouraged to pursue careers across all sectors, there is no 'women's work' or 'men's work'. Women stay in the pipeline and become leaders across industries.

With care work and household responsibilities shared equally, women don't have to worry about their family choices interfering with the way they are perceived at work and limiting their ability to progress.

There's unified parental leave across all sectors. Fathers take parental leave as mothers do and enjoy caring for their children. Employers allow flexible arrangements for those who have care responsibilities.

Also, in Equiterra minimum wages are set to provide decent income and there is quality and affordable care available for those who need it. As a result, men and women can equally contribute towards a thriving economy and children are happy and healthy.

4. Toxic Masculinity Recycling Plant

Just like in every civilization, citizens of Equiterra are affected by the human history, including patriarchal ideas of gender roles and what it means to be a boy or a girl, a woman or a man, a transgender person or a gender-nonconforming person.

Instead of conforming to these historical gendered stereotypes that have restricted men and women for generations, people of Equiterra question toxic masculinity. In the Toxic Masculinity Recycling Plant, through innovative dialogues and learning, toxic behaviours are transformed into attitudes that perpetuate gender equality.

For instance, expectations such as, men and boys shouldn't show emotion, or that they are naturally aggressive, have been transformed into healthier attitudes that respect every person's right to live as their true self, with their full range of emotions, dreams and capabilities. Binary definitions of gender turn into a spectrum of gender identity and expression.

Freed from oppressive gender roles, people of Equiterra are not held back by dominant forms of masculinity, and they are happier and mentally healthier than any other society.

5. Inclusion square

Two men stand together, watching their son play on the jungle gym. He's made friends with a child in a wheelchair, and another little girl. They're playing pretend: they're all knights guarding their castle against imaginary enemies.

Inclusion square is where families and friends meet to relax and spend time outside. Anyone and everyone can enjoy the space: It's accessible for those living with disability; people don't feel judged or discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation, race, religion or socioeconomic standing. Here, everyone feels welcome and included. Here, everyone is safe and able to enjoy themselves.

6. Climate Action Street

In Equiterra there are no deniers of climate change. Everyone does their part to protect the earth and takes action to stop rising temperatures and the destruction of resources. Along Climate Action Street, you'll see recycling and compost bins. There is sustainable and safe public transport that reduces the need for everyone to own and use cars. Sustainable, recycled fashion is the rage here, limiting waste.

And, you see women leading the charge, in equal footing with men. Women leaders in business and government have been key actors in making the policies that are protecting the environment. With the inclusion of women's experiences, talent and perspectives, Equiterra has found new ways of sustainably reducing the country's carbon footprint and food waste.

7. Equal Representation Avenue

Along Equal Representation Avenue are some of the most important institutions: government headquarters, leading businesses, and a major newspaper office and TV station.

They all have gender balanced leadership. The Parliament has equal representation of women and men, and the boardrooms show women and men of diversity working towards common goals. In the media, you don't see harmful stereotypes and sexism.

8. Education Boulevard

In Equiterra, education is a top priority. On the school grounds, you see young girls and boys reading history books that include stories of both women and men who have shaped their communities and culture.

Children attend school without worrying about their safety, and girls and boys share chores at home. They have access to all the books and technology they need to learn and grow.

Girls are taught science and math without the presumption that it's not for them. Boys learn humanities and art and learn the importance of gender equality. There's no such thing as child marriage that pulls girls out of school to become brides.

9. Freedom Avenue

Freedom is one of the guiding principles of life in Equiterra. Freedom of expression and movement, freedom to choose your identity, and freedom to choose how many children you have and to have control over your own body.

Along Freedom Avenue are the resources to guide some of these choices. Here, you will find access to safe, voluntary family planning information. Comprehensive education about sexuality and sexual and reproductive health and rights is part of the school curricula and available to everyone.

In Equiterra since everyone is empowered to access such information and services, couples and individuals can plan if and when and how many children they want to have, women can complete their education, pursue their careers and enjoy better health. They are leaders in shaping health policies and budgets that affect their lives.

Every woman or girl, whether young or old, can get HIV testing and treatment without stigma or discrimination. In Equite rra, public health systems are fully funded and staffed, user-fees are a thing of the past.

Now that you have seen Equiterra join #GenerationEquality to make this a reality in your family, community and country

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Welcome to Equiterra, where gender equality is real

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BREAKING NEWS: We found a country that has achieved gender equality! In Equiterra all people have equal rights and opportunities, regardless of their gender. Women and girls feel safe when walking at night. They get paid equally as men, for work of equal value. Men and women share chores and

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UN Women has been supporting Palestinian women since 1997 to achieve their social, economic, and political rights. We remain present on the ground to provide support and assistance and will do so for as long as it takes.

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UN Women is the global champion for gender equality, working to develop and uphold standards and create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential. We are trusted partners for advocates and decision-makers from all walks of life, and a leader in the effort to achieve gender equality.

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Military Confidence-Building Measures – UNODA

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Confidence-building measures (CBMs) are planned procedures to prevent hostilities, to avert escalation, to reduce military tension, and to build mutual trust between countries. They have been applied since the dawn of civilization, on all continents. At present, too few military CBMs are in place. Many regions lack even the most basic military CBMs. Each country is in a unique strategic environment. Military CBMs can be tailored to the security needs of any country or region.

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DISCLAIMER: Some resources listed and/or hyperlinked on this page may be from individuals, organisations and entities other than the United Nations and are provided for information purposes only. The hyperlinking of outside resources is not an endorsement by the United Nations of the views expressed therein nor does the United Nations have control over the content or accuracy of information provided. No editorial comment is implied by the omission of a resource or website.

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DISCLAIMER: Some resources listed and/or hyperlinked on this page may be from individuals, organisations and entities other than the United Nations and are provided for information purposes only. The hyperlinking of outside resources is not an endorsement by the United Nations of the views expressed therein nor does the United Nations have control over the content or accuracy of information provided.

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Space for the Sustainable Development Goals

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The Sustainable Development Report 2023 tracks the performance of all 193 UN Member States on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

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Efforts in the United Nations to maintain outer space for peaceful purposes began in 1957, months prior to the launch of the first artificial satellite into Earth's orbit. Early proposals for prohibiting the use of space for military purposes and the placement of weapons of mass destruction in outer space were considered in the late 1950s and early 1960s by the United Nations.

Existing Legal Framework

The Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies ("Outer Space Treaty") entered into force in 1967, after consideration by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and the General Assembly. The Treaty provides the basic framework for international space law.

In particular, it prohibits the placement of nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction in outer space and the stationing of such weapons on celestial bodies. It also establishes basic principles related to the peaceful use of outer space. This includes that the exploration and use of outer space shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries and that the moon and other celestial bodies shall not be subject to national appropriation or claims of sovereignty.

Prevention of an arms race in outer space

Since the early 1980s, the Conference on Disarmament (CD) has considered further proposals under the agenda item "prevention of an arms race in outer space", including draft treaties aimed at, inter alia, preventing the placement of weapons in outer space and prohibiting the use of anti-satellite weapons.

In 2008, the Governments of China and the Russian Federation introduced the draft text of such a treaty to the CD.They presented a revised draft treaty in 2014.

The General Assembly has also been engaged in the matter of ensuring peace and security in outer space. In 2017, by resolution A/RES/72/250, the General Assembly decided to establish a Group of Governmental Experts to consider and make recommendations on substantial elements of an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, including, inter alia, on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space.While the Group held some of the most in-depth discussions on the matter in more than a decade, it was ultimately unable to reach consensus on a substantive report. The procedural report of the Group, which includes a report by the Chair of the Group on the work of its first session, can be found in document A/74/77. Information on the work of the Group can be found here.

Norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours

In 2020, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/75/36 on Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviors. The Assembly sought, inter alia, ideas from Member States on the further development and implementation of norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours and on the reduction of the risks of misunderstanding and miscalculations with respect to outer space. Replies received pursuant to that request can be found here.

Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures

In 1990, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts, to carry out a study on different confidence-building measures in outer space. That group delivered its report in 1993 (A/48/305).

In 2005, beginning with resolution A/RES/60/66, the General Assembly began a new process for exploring and subsequently development transparency and confidence-building measures (TCBMs) in outer space activities. In 2010, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/65/68, which established a group of governmental experts (GGE) to conduct a study on outer space.The GGE convened three sessions in 2012 and 2013 and submitted its consensus report ( A/68/189*) to the General Assembly at its 68th session.
The GGE agreed to a set of TCBMs in outer space activities for implementation by States and international organizations on a voluntary basis. Those measures included: information exchange on space policies; information exchange and notifications related to outer space activities; risk reduction notifications; contact and visits to space launch sites and facilities; international cooperation; consultative mechanisms; outreach; and coordination. The GGE also endorsed efforts to pursue political commitments, for example, in the form of unilateral declarations, bilateral commitments or a multilateral code of conduct, to encourage responsible actions in, and the peaceful use of, outer space.

The General Assembly has taken a number of steps to advance the implementation of outer space TCBMs. In resolution A/RES/68/50 and subsequent resolutions, the Assembly encouraged Member States to review and implement, to the greatest extent practicable, the proposed TCBMs, through relevant national mechanisms, on a voluntary basis and in a manner consistent with the national interests of Member States. Pursuant to the recommendation of the GGE, the First and Fourth Committees of the General Assembly held joint ad hoc meeting, which addressed possible challenges to space security and sustainability.

In resolution A/RES/69/38 and subsequent resolutions, the General Assembly encouraged the relevant entities and organizations of the United Nations system to coordinate, as appropriate, on matters related to the recommendations contained in the GGE report. In 2015, the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities (UN-Space), coordinated by the Office for Outer Space Affairs, issued a special report on the role of United Nations entities in supporting implementation of the GGE report (A/AC.105/1116).

Report by the Secretary-General to the 72nd session of the General Assembly
By resolution A/RES/70/53, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to submit to the Assembly at its seventy-second session a report on the coordination of transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities in the United Nations system, with an annex containing submissions from Member States giving their views on transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities. The report reproduces the substantive text of the special report by UN-Space and incorporates updates received from the contributing entities.

The replies received from Governments, including the versions of those received in extenso in the original languages received, can be found here.
United Nations Disarmament Commission
In 2018, the United Nations Disarmament Commission adopted the following item for consideration during its 2018-2020 cycle: In accordance with the recommendations contained in the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on Transparency and Confidence-building Measures in Outer Space Activities (A/68/189), preparation of recommendations to promote the practical implementation of transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities with the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space. Information on the 2018 session of the Disarmament Commission can be found here.

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Efforts in the United Nations to maintain outer space for peaceful purposes began in 1957, months prior to the launch of the first artificial satellite into Earth's orbit. Early proposals for prohibiting the use of space for military purposes and the placement of weapons of mass destruction in outer space were considered in the late 1950s and early 1960s by the United Nations.

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The Sustainable Development Report 2023 tracks the performance of all 193 UN Member States on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

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Space4SDGs: How space can be used in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

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Space Supporting the Sustainable Development Goals
Space technology and its applications play an important role in supporting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Find out how space research, technology and applications can help us achieve the SDGs.
Read more

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UNOOSA and ESA release updated infographics about space debris

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UNOOSA and ESA space debris infographics and podcasts
Space debris is an issue of global concern. UNOOSA and ESA have come together to create a series of material providing the main facts about space debris, the risks they pose and how we can address them. Read more

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Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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The brand new FAO Member showcase is a space where Members can highlight their agricultural systems, innovations and food products. Take a worldwide tour of local agriculture, beautiful landscapes and typical crops and food. More countries will be available in the upcoming months.

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The brand new FAO Member showcase is a space where Members can highlight their agricultural systems, innovations and food products. Take a worldwide tour of local agriculture, beautiful landscapes and typical crops and food. More countries will be available in the upcoming months.

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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948. It states the basic rights and freedoms to which all people are entitled.

Most teachers are willing to tackle the difficult topics, but we need the tools.

- Gabriela Calderon-Espinal, Bay Shore, NY

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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948. It states the basic rights and freedoms to which all people are entitled.