Africa: UN defends Zim on human rights

Harare, Zimbabwe - The largest global tourism summit organized by the United Nations ends with officials defending Zimbabwe's role as co-host after years of abuses of human and democratic rights in the southern African nation.

The 180-member United Nations World Tourism Organization said Thursday it re-elected Taleb Rifai of Jordan for a second four-year term as its secretary general at the

Malala Yousafzai Gets Peace Prize

A teenager shot in the head by the Taliban has been awarded a prestigious peace prize for her courage and determination.

Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban, received the 2012 Tipperary International Peace Award

Pakistani student Malala Yousafzai was the latest in a line of notable recipients of the Tipperary International Peace Award.

The 16-year-old education activist was attacked by Taliban gunmen last October after she campaigned for girls to go to school without fear in part of the country where fundamentalists had once imposed strict Sharia law.

UN youth group hails Ghanaian NGOs

Photo Iltrs

A United Nations Youth Group from Switzerland have expressed their utmost satisfaction on the critical roles played by various Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Ghana. 

The United Nations Youth Group from Switzerland who are in the country at the invitation by their Ghanaian counterpart made this known during an on-going monthlong cultural exchange.

The exchange is to allow them realize the role of NGOs and how NGOs conduct their corporate social responsibilities. The UN youth are a group of young and dynamic tertiary students with the passion to change society through volunteerism and skills acquired in schools.

Malala Yousafzai: Battling for an education in Pakistan

Malala Yousafzai From taliban

Geneva UN,-- When a Taliban gunman shot Malala Yousafzai last October, the bullet travelled beyond her native Swat Valley in northern Pakistan. 

It echoed around the globe, and ricocheted through another conservative community in the north - with surprising results. 

First there was fear, says local aid worker, Qurratul Ain Sheikh, sitting in a school courtyard perched on a hilltop. "After the Malala issue so many parents, especially mothers, did not allow their daughters to come to school," she said. "They were so afraid."

FORUM ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND RACISM HELD IN MOUNTAIN VIEW

Youth for Human Rights in Silicon Valley held an informational forum Wednesday in Mountain View to present various educational materials that can be used to combat racial discrimination in Silicon Valley. 

Youth for Human Rights in Silicon Valley (YHRSV) presented a forum at the Dianetics and Scientology Information Center in Mountain View Wednesday in observance of International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Morsi calls on Egyptian army to withdraw ultimatum

Supporters of Egypt’s president Mohamed Morsi shout slogans during a protest in support of Morsi near Cairo University. Photograph: REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has called on the armed forces to withdraw an ultimatum for him to share power with his political opponents and said he would not be dictated to. 

“President Mohamed Morsi asserts his grasp on constitutional legitimacy and rejects any attempt to deviate from it, and calls on the armed forces to withdraw their warning and refuses to be dicatated to internally or externally,” a tweet on the official Twitter feed of the Egyptian presidency said.

How Can Mobile Services Improve Youth Employment Opportunities?

According to the UN, there are 75 million unemployed youth globally, making youth unemployment one of the biggest challenges for both developing and developed countries in the next decade. The factors impacting this complex issue are manifold, and youth themselves paint a grim picture of their present circumstances:

• 74% feel they cannot not access money or capital required to start a business
• 40% need training on how to run a business

How Can Mobile Services Improve Youth Employment Opportunities?

According to the UN, there are 75 million unemployed youth globally, making youth unemployment one of the biggest challenges for both developing and developed countries in the next decade. The factors impacting this complex issue are manifold, and youth themselves paint a grim picture of their present circumstances:

• 74% feel they cannot not access money or capital required to start a business
• 40% need training on how to run a business
• 59% feel that looking for work opportunities was ‘impossible’ with lack of skills and a lack of contacts being some of the highest ranked challenges

This is only an example of what the GSMA Mobile for Employment Programme and Alcatel-Lucent found when they asked youths, mobile operators, and ecosystem partners in Bangladesh, Ghana, Indonesia and Spain for their thoughts on youth employment barriers and how mobile services could help.

For the full article, please click here.

SOURCE: ICT Works or http://unsdn.org/?p=8356

UNYA Finland – Campaign on the situation of the youth in South Sudan

UNYA Finland was present at the World Village Festival in Helsinki on 25-26 May 2013 with the theme of the situation of the youth in South Sudan. Promoting a UN Security Council resolution on Youth, Peace and Security is one of the main goals of UNYA Finland, and the theme was thus presented also at the festival that brought together hundreds of civil society organizations, different performances and 85,000 visitors.

South Sudan declared its independence a couple of years ago, and its citizens have had to cope in the middle of several conflicts. State building is ongoing, but to get the state vibrant, also the young people are needed. In South Sudan, the role of the youth is particularly important as some 70% of the population are under the age of 30. The young should be integrated into the state and peace building processes, and they should be taken into consideration as a special group in political decisions.

No young person to be left behind in the UN Post-2015 Development Framework

Brussels, 27 June 2013 - The European Parliament and the European Youth Forum jointly reflected on the role of young people in the Post-2015 Development Framework concerning what should follow the Millennium Development Goals when they expire in 2015. The UN Secretary General's Special Envoy on Youth, Mr Ahmad Alhendawi, has also provided his inputs to the discussions to put youth at the centre of development.

Secretary-General: Invest in youth today to transform the world tomorrow

SG UN Ban Ki-moon

With the world projected to need about half a billion jobs in the coming decades, young entrepreneurs should be encouraged, educated and empowered, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the General Assembly on Wednesday.

Speaking during a debate on entrepreneurship for development, Mr. Ban pointed out that the current generation of young people is the largest in history.

He said investing in them can transform the world.

UN agency picks ‘Arab Idol’ winner Assaf as first youth envoy for Palestine refugees

YouthNews,-- 24 June 2013 – Mohammad Assaf – a resident of a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip and the first Palestinian to win the singing contest “Arab Idol” – has been named a regional youth ambassador by the United Nations agency tasked with assisting Palestinian refugees across the Middle East.

UNYANET Summit 2013 Press Release

UNYANET is pleased to announce a new format for its annual meeting by UNYANET Summit 2013 including a Capacity Building Seminar and the third UNYANET General Assembly in Ljubljana, Slovenia, 19-23 August 2013.

See full Press Release – UNYANET Summit 2013.

Or PDF File Press Release – UNYANET Summit 2013.

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• UNYA Switzerland – Investigating Corporate Social Responsibility - 24/06/2013
• Application for UN Young Professionals Programme 2013 open - 17/06/2013
• UNYANET Summit 2013 Press Release - 11/06/2013

Application for UN Young Professionals Programme 2013 open

The United Nations announced that the application for their YPP program has been opened. The United Nations “is looking for highly qualified candidates who are ready to launch a professional career as an international civil servant. The Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is a recruitment initiative that brings new talent to the United Nations through an annual entrance examination.”For young, high-calibre professionals across the globe, the examination is a platform for launching a career at the United Nations. 

UNYA Switzerland – Investigating Corporate Social Responsibility

Global Compact Summit at the UN headquarters. UN Photo/Mark Garten

This summer an innovative intercultural study project between UNYA Switzerland and UNYA Ghana sets new standards for global collaboration between UN Youth associations.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has gained increased global attention in the recent years for its potential to tackle future global challenges of conflicting demands. Situated in between major global actors, CSR is a tool targeting companies and businesses to uphold certain ethical standards in their practices. It is an attempt to balance the global economy and build a stronger global social and environmental equilibrium.

Support for the World Cup, but not for interns?

At the end of March, it was announced that the United Nations are supporting Brazil in their effort to finish the stadiums they are building for the World Cup in 2014. 

The whole contract between Brazilian government and the United Nations is worth 17.6 million dollars. A lot of money that could be used for other things, like interns.

 

First of all, I am not against the World Cup in Brazil. I would love to go there, and I am sure it will be a huge sucess. However, the financial troubles, the corruption and huge waste of money are bothering not only me as the protests are showing and I am especially not agreeing with this kind of support the United Nations provides. 

UNYA Romania – Summer School on “New Perspectives on Diplomacy”

Someone said “summer”? Since it’s already here, it’s also time to start making some plans instead of worrying about your finals 24/7.

UN Youth Association of Romania comes forward with the proposal of combining learning, socializing and having fun in one of the most exciting capitals of Europe: Bucharest! From 25 to 31 July, UNYA Romania organizes a Summer School focused on “New Perspectives on Diplomacy”. 

The participants will have the opportunity to meet worldwide known diplomats and learn about this field in Romania’s top administrative and academic institutions.

Application for this educational and multi-cultural experience is now open at the “Registration” section of UNYA Romania website until 15 June.

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Honna Marttila