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26 April 2024
Seda Karakuş: “I firmly believe in the power and strength we gain when women come together, supporting and empowering each other.”
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26 April 2024
Capacity Building Training for Women Budget Groups
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22 April 2024
Heat-related deaths increased across almost all Europe in 2023, says UN weather agency
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The Sustainable Development Goals in Türkiye
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 Türkiye:
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22 April 2024
Heat-related deaths increased across almost all Europe in 2023, says UN weather agency
Climate change shocks caused record levels of disruption and misery for millions in Europe in 2023 with widespread flooding and severe heatwaves – a new normal which countries must adapt to as a priority, the UN weather agency said on Monday.New data published jointly by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Copernicus Climate Change Service confirmed fears that that 2023 was the joint warmest or second warmest year on record in Europe, depending on the dataset selected.In practical terms, this led to a record number of days with “extreme heat stress” across Europe, with “an increasing trend” in the number “strong heat stress” days on the Continent.“2023 was the joint warmest or second warmest year on record depending on the dataset,” WMO said. “Heat-related mortality has increased by around 30 per cent in the past 20 years and heat-related deaths are estimated to have increased in 94 per cent of the European regions monitored.”Concretely, the 2023 European State of the Climate report indicates an increase in the number of “adverse health impacts” caused by extreme weather and climate events.The findings reflect increasing wider climate change shocks beyond Europe, but they are particularly significant because the continent is the fastest-warming, WMO said.“The climate crisis is the biggest challenge of our generation,” said Celeste Saulo, WMO Secretary-General. “The cost of climate action may seem high but the cost of inaction is much higher. As this report shows, we need to leverage science to provide solutions for the good of society.”Researchers who tracked back a decade found that members of the public and some health providers also had “a low-risk perception” of the dangers of heat exhaustion. To counter this, early warning systems including the WMO’s Regional Climate Centre’s Climate Watch are designed to raise awareness of impending extreme weather events and encourage preparedness.According to the UN agency, land temperatures in Europe were above average for 11 months of the year in 2023, including the warmest September on record. Rainfall was also seven per cent higher than average, WMO’s weather report found, with European rivers flowing at record levels in December and “exceptionally high” flow in almost a quarter of the river network. This meant that during 2023, “high” flood thresholds were crossed in one third of the European river network, while close to one in seven exceeded “severe” flood thresholds.‘Beyond extreme’ sea heat spikeRecord sea surface temperatures around Europe also reflected the deeply worrying warming trend on land, with an alarming “marine heatwave” present in June, in the Atlantic Ocean west of Ireland and around the United Kingdom. The event was classified as “extreme” and in some areas “beyond extreme”, WMO said, with sea surface temperatures as much as 5 Celsius above average.“For the year as a whole, the average sea-surface temperature for the ocean across Europe was the warmest on record,” WMO said. “Parts of the Mediterranean Sea and the northeastern Atlantic Ocean saw their highest annual average sea-surface temperature on record.”In a focus on sustainability and resilience to climate change shocks, the UN agency report underscored a record increase in electricity generation using renewable technology in Europe.This was linked to higher-than-normal storm activity from October to December, which resulted in above-average wind power production. Also significant was above average hydroelectric power generation across much of Europe over 2023, linked to above-average rainfall and river flow.On the other hand, solar panel power generation was below average in northwestern and central Europe, but above average in southwestern Europe, southern Europe and Scandinavia.Fewer snow daysWMO’s State of the Climate update also confirmed suspicions that much of Europe experienced fewer days with snow than average, particularly across central Europe and the Alps over the winter and spring.This resulted in “exceptional” glacier ice loss in the Alps, made worse by strong summer melt caused by heatwaves, with glaciers losing around 10 per cent of their remaining volume over 2022 and 2023.Arctic shockData for 2023 did little to allay concerns about the earth’s poles, with Arctic temperatures the sixth warmest on record. For Arctic land, it was the fifth warmest, closely behind 2022. The five warmest years on record for Arctic land have all occurred since 2016.Arctic Sea ice extent remained below average through most of 2023. At its annual maximum in March, the monthly extent was 4% below average, ranking fifth lowest on record. At its annual minimum in September, the monthly extent ranked sixth lowest, at 18% below average.Total wildfire carbon emissions from the sub-Arctic and Arctic regions were the second highest on record. Most high-latitude wildfires occurred in Canada between May and September.
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26 April 2024
Seda Karakuş: “I firmly believe in the power and strength we gain when women come together, supporting and empowering each other.”
Seda Karakuş is a 27-year-old woman working as an early childhood education specialist in Gaziantep, a southeastern city of Türkiye affected by the earthquakes. Karakuş found herself helping people after the disaster and decided the pursue a career in civil society. After having received mentoring from INGEV, a partner organization of UN Women, she started to work in a civil society organization.“I am Seda Karakuş, a 27-year-old early childhood education specialist at OXFAM-KEDV. Since earning my degree in Preschool Education from Gaziantep University in 2019, my professional journey has been marked by various experiences. This includes establishing libraries in rural schools for vulnerable groups and providing educational support for children with special needs and disadvantages. Fluent in English, I learned the language through self-motivation, without professional assistance. I consider it a significant investment in myself.On February 6th, I experienced the earthquakes in Gaziantep. Stepping into action after the disaster, I volunteered to support survivors. The firsthand experience of working in the field, participating in collective efforts, and assisting people further motivated me to continue my career in the humanitarian sector within a civil society organization. I vividly remember telling myself during the earthquake, ‘If something is breaking, it is an opportunity for us to start again.’Believing in continuous self-improvement throughout one’s life, I explored ways to enhance my skills and, in doing so, encountered the mentoring support provided by INGEV. Recognizing the potential benefits of INGEV’s training for my personal development, I enrolled in their program.One of the most significant insights during this training was the difficulty I faced in highlighting my skills. With mentoring support and a clear roadmap, I gained a profound understanding of what I want, and more importantly, what I do not want. Crucially, I discovered what I am capable of achieving. The training served as a guide in bringing out my potential.I was born on August 19th, which also happens to be World Humanitarian Day. I believe that my mission is to help people, particularly contributing to the development of women. Pursuing a career in civil society perfectly aligns with this ideal of mine.By working for an organization that supports the economic empowerment of women in earthquake-affected areas, I have realized my goal. Providing support to other women in a civil society organization fills me with strength. I firmly believe in the power and strength we gain when women come together, supporting and empowering each other.”Seda Karakuş was a trainee at the training provided by the Human Development Foundation (INGEV) through the “Hand in hand” (Eleleyiz in Turkish) project. The project, centers on the needs of NEET women aged 18-29, aiming to enhance their vocational skills through online and on-site training activities. INGEV kicked off the project in November 2022 in Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, and Mardin within the “Strong Civic Space for Gender Equality” implemented by UN Women Türkiye with the financial support of the European Union.
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26 April 2024
Capacity Building Training for Women Budget Groups
Women's Budget Groups consisting of participants from Edirne, Eskişehir, Gaziantep and Kocaeli provinces came together for capacity building training under the Gender Responsive Planning and Budgeting Project in Türkiye Project.The training program, which was held in Ankara between 24-26 April 2024, aimed to ensure the sustainability of Women's Budget Groups and to increase the capacity of members in monitoring and auditing public expenditures. Within the scope of the training program, participants gained in-depth knowledge on the concepts and implementation tools of gender-responsive planning and good practice examples. In group workshops, important discussions were held on the role of civil society organizations and local governments in ensuring gender equality and sectoral priorities.This training, which is part of the project, aims to make a significant contribution to strengthening the perspective of gender equality in Türkiye and developing more effective policies. Participants stated that with the knowledge and experience they gained from the training, they will contribute more effectively to women's empowerment and gender equality efforts.What are Women's Budget Groups? Women's Budget Groups were established in 4 selected provinces at the beginning of 2024 within the scope of the Gender Responsive Planning and Budgeting in Türkiye Project. The groups, formed by civil society organizations engaged in rights-based advocacy, women council members and city council representatives, aim to support sustainable planning and budgeting efforts at the local level.
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16 April 2024
UN leaders urge ‘wholesale reform’ of global financial architecture
UN leaders urge ‘wholesale reform’ of global financial architectureThe Secretary-General and President of the General Assembly on Monday led the clarion call for urgent reform of the global financial system, notably how to approach debt relief on behalf of the billions of citizens living in the developing worldAddressing a high-level meeting of the General Assembly on debt sustainability, António Guterres outlined the crippling impact of debt on developing economies.“No example of the international financial architecture’s failure is more glaring than its handling of debt. The last four years have been nothing short of a debt disaster,” he said.He noted that the burden of servicing external debt leaves many countries with little to invest in their own people.Startling figuresAccording to UN figures, in 2023, global public debt reached $313 trillion, with the situation particularly alarming in developing economies.Over a fifth of the tax revenue in 25 developing countries went towards servicing external debt, while extremely high borrowing costs left countries with about 3.3 billion people in total – around 40 per cent of the global population – spending more on interest payments than on health or education initiatives.“Instead of a safety net, developing countries are faced with an outdated, dysfunctional, unjust system that isn’t meeting their needs,” he added.Convened by the President of the General Assembly, the debate on debt sustainability and socioeconomic equality for all, marked the first high-level discussion as part of the world body’s first ever Sustainability Week.Other highlights include dedicated discussions on sustainable transport, tourism and energy.Worsening inequalitiesAlso addressing the General Assembly, Dennis Francis, President of the body’s 78th session, emphasized the worsening inequalities between richer and poorer nations.“By 2030, an estimated 600 million people will still remain impoverished – indicative of the glacial pace of ‘progress’ that falls far short of our SDG goals,” he said, noting that 10 per cent of the world’s population owns 76 per cent of the global wealth.And while, the world is on track to see its first trillionaire by 2030, it will take another 229 years to eradicate poverty.“It is clear that the gap between the wealthy North and the Developing South is widening, increasingly limiting the life chances of people living there,” he said.He outlined the impact of such disparities on youth, women, persons with disabilities and those living in rural areas.“If nothing is done to correct this situation, they will literally be left behind, denied from enjoying the fruits of development and ignored. Clearly, this is neither acceptable nor sustainable,” Mr. Francis warned.Need for lifelineSecretary-General Guterres underscored the need for a lifeline so developing countries can pull themselves out of the “quicksand of debt”.He said the SDG Stimulus programme which he proposed last February, must now be brought “to life”.The Stimulus aims to secure $500 billion annually in extra financing from the world’s most developed nations, to meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.“We must dramatically scale-up affordable, long-term financing, primarily through Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs),” he said, also urging global creditors to explore “debt pauses” for vulnerable countries and for international financial institutions to help them restructure their debt.Reforms neededAlongside, the global financial architecture requires “wholesale reform”, he said, notably their approach to debt.This included enhancing debt transparency, scaling-up lending in local currencies and developing new debt instruments.“Above all, we must increase developing countries’ representation across the system and every decision that is made. They need a seat at the table. They deserve a seat at the table,” Mr. Guterres said.
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03 April 2024
Gaza: Israeli strike on NGO aid team condemned as humanitarians renew access call
The killing of seven aid workers from the NGO World Central Kitchen in Israeli military airstrikes in central Gaza has been strongly condemned by senior UN humanitarian officials who on Tuesday reiterated repeated concerns that "there is no safe space left in Gaza"."This is not an isolated incident," said Jamie McGoldrick, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). "As of 20 March, at least 196 humanitarians had been killed in the OPT since October 2023. This is nearly three times the death toll recorded in any single conflict in a year."Mr. McGoldrick repeated appeals to "all parties to the conflict, including the Government of Israel", to respect international humanitarian law, which prohibits the targeting of humanitarian personnel. "The role of aid workers is to alleviate the suffering of people in crisis. Their safety, along with that of the civilians they serve, must be guaranteed," he said.The senior UN official's comments came after World Central Kitchen reported that an Israeli airstrike was responsible for the deaths of its aid workers in Deir Al-Balah. Following those reports and images of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) vehicle showing a large hole in its roof, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths expressed his outrage at the attack and described the victims are “heroes, killed while trying to feed starving people”.From the UN World Health Organization (WHO), spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris maintained that the NGO mission had been agreed with the Israeli authorities ahead of time and that the organisation’s car was “well marked, it was very clear: it was World Central Kitchen”."How many more lives will be lost until there is a ceasefire?", said UN health agency chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a tweet. He said WHO was outraged by the killing of humanitarian workers, and safety must be a basic requirement for all who do relief work.The key UN agency providing relief to Palestinians, UNRWA, tweeted that it was devastated by the killing of seven humanitarians, pointing out that 176 of its own workers have been killed since the violence erupted on 7 October. Al-Shifa Hospital: Heart of healthcare 'ripped out'Turning to the destruction of Al-Shifa Hospital following a two-week siege by the Israeli military, Dr. Harris said that it had “ripped the heart out of healthcare” in the enclave.In a stark assessment of the closure of 750-bed Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, WHO maintained that aid teams had been waiting for “days and days” for Israeli permission to reach the stricken facility, where staff and patients endured “horrific levels of violence”.“We’ve had contact with the staff; the (hospital) directors told us that Al-Shifa has gone, it’s no longer able to function in any way, shape or form” as a medical centre, said Dr. Harris.Reduced to rubbleSpeaking to journalists in Geneva, Dr. Harris said that the facility was now “in ruins” and that at least 21 patients had died during the Israeli Defense Forces siege. As the situation deteriorated at Al-Shifa, medical staff had to move patients to an office space within the hospital grounds without toilets and where there was no water or food; "they were sharing one bottle of water between 15 people by the end,” the WHO spokesperson continued.She noted that medical staff “had no means of looking after patients, many of whom were severely injured (or) intensive care-level patients” fitted with urinary catheters but lacking urinary bags. “You can imagine the horror that has been going on,” Dr. Harris said.If permission is granted on Tuesday to reach Al-Shifa and northern Gaza’s last few remaining health facilities, priorities for WHO teams include bringing medicines, fuel and food and assessing what other supplies are needed and how to provide relief to the most severely injured and sick. “We’ve been trying to go for days and days and days, and most of our missions have been rejected,” Dr. Harris said. “We’re not going to be able to provide the things that, say, a functioning hospital needs, but first of all, we need to do an assessment to understand what we can do. Secondly…who needs to be evacuated…where can they go and what can we do to save the lives of those patients (who are) remaining.”To date, hundreds of healthcare workers have been killed “doing their job”, the WHO official noted, along with 32,000 of civilians, 70 per cent of whom are women and children, amid constant Israeli bombardment launched after Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel on 7 October that left some 1,200 dead and more than 250 taken hostage.“We are struggling to understand the mortality numbers beyond the numbers that are reported of people who are killed in the bombardment because many people don’t even get to hospital,” the WHO spokesperson said.Too small to surviveA UN health agency team also intends to visit Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza City where there are already dire concerns about the growing number of babies being born too underweight to survive.The facility is now admitting at least 15 malnourished children per day, and the needs are “getting ever more severe”, Dr. Harris insisted in a renewed call for a ceasefire. “It’s got to be taken seriously – the ceasefire, the UN resolution – the world has agreed a ceasefire must happen. It should have happened months ago, but it must happen now.”Help for the most dangerously malnourished youngsters who are at the “highest risk of imminent death if not urgently treated” is available at two WHO-partnered specialised nutrition centres in Rafah and another in Kamal Adwan.Before conflict erupted, Gazans were self-sufficient in food production and only 0.8 per cent of children under the age of five were acutely malnourished. In the northern governorates today, that figure is between 12.4 and 16.5 per cent, WHO reported.“Different doctors particularly in the maternity hospitals are reporting that they’re seeing a big rise in children born [with] low birth weight and just not surviving the neonatal period because they are born too small,” Dr. Harris said.
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28 March 2024
Experience Exchange on Gender Responsive Budgeting Among Türkiye and Serbia
In a bid to fortify the implementation of Gender-Responsive Planning and Budgeting (GRB) practices in Türkiye, the third study visit of the "Implementing Gender-Responsive Planning and Budgeting in Türkiye Project" took place, in Serbia. Spearheaded by UN Women Türkiye in collaboration with the Ministry of Family and Social Services (MoFSS) - General Directorate on the Status of Women (GDSW) and Presidency of Strategy and Budget (SBP), and co-funded by the European Union and United Nations, this initiative seeks to foster equality between women and men in Türkiye by integrating gender perspectives into policymaking and budgeting processes.The study visit aimed at introducing internationally recognized best practices in GRB to central level public institutions in Türkiye, as well as strengthening Türkiye's implementation of GRB. In particular, the visit focused on learning from the Serbian authorities on the establishment of the necessary legal frameworks for the embedding of the GRB in budgetary legislation and related documents and the development of technical capacities for regulatory impact assessment activities.Participants comprised expert-level members from various institutions, including the UN Women Türkiye, General Directorate on the Status of Women, Presidency of Strategy and Budget (SBP), Ministry of Treasury and Finance, Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, and Union of Municipalities of Türkiye. During the study visit to Serbia, the Turkish delegation held discussions on different issues related to the implementation of the GRB. Representatives from different institutions of Serbia shared their views on key issues such as gender equality in the strategic planning process, GRB implementation at local and provincial levels and the role of GRB in integrating the gender equality perspective in different areas such as employment, environmental protection and climate change.The ultimate objective of the study visit was to equip national institutions with the necessary tools and knowledge on GRB to advance gender equality through planning and budgeting in Türkiye. In this context, the exchange of experiences with the Serbian authorities aimed to provide guidance to policy makers to improve Türkiye's policy framework and practices in the field of GRB in the light of international best practices.
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Press Release
14 March 2024
Türkiye ranks 45th of 193 countries in human development, new UNDP report says
Ankara, 13 March 2024 - Türkiye ranks 45th among 193 countries in this year’s edition of the Human Development Index (HDI) released today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Based on 2022 data, Türkiye lands in the “very high human development” category—the highest of four—for the fourth year in a row. But while the ranking offers good news for the most prosperous countries, it shows a worrying divergence in human development outcomes, with poorer countries failing to regain ground lost to the pandemic. Globally, the HDI hit a record high, rebounding from two years of pandemic declines. The average conceals widening inequality, however, as half of the world’s poorest countries failed to regain their pre-pandemic level. “Like most of the world’s wealthier countries, Türkiye has bounced back vigorously from pandemic setbacks,” said UNDP Türkiye Resident Representative Louisa Vinton. “But this encouraging progress is overshadowed by resurgent inequality that threatens millions of people around the world with the risk of being left behind.” UNDP’s HDI was created 34 years ago to provide a fuller measure of human wellbeing than that afforded by financially focused indicators such as gross domestic product (GDP). It combines three key measures: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living. Türkiye has shown remarkable improvement over three decades: the country’s HDI value rose from 0.598 in 1990 to 0.855 in 2022, a 43 percent increase. Türkiye has seen advances across all three dimensions of the HDI: life expectancy at birth increased by 10.8 years between 1990 and 2022; mean years of schooling increased by 4.4 years; and expected years of schooling increased by 10.8 years. And the country’s gross national income per capita surged by 154.3 percent in the same period. But Türkiye’s ranking slips when the HDI is adjusted for inequality. Overall men enjoy a higher level of human development than women, so when adjusted for gender equality, Türkiye’s ranking falls to 66th of 166 countries.The new ranking is based on national statistics and data reported in 2022, so it does not reflect the impact of the February 2023 earthquakes. Despite the huge loss of life and the vast scale of the damage caused by the disaster – a government assessment prepared with UNDP’s support estimated total damages and losses at US$103.6 billion, or 9 percent of forecast GDP for 2023 – the earthquakes are not expected to affect the country’s HDI ranking. The HDI rankings are a core part of the Human Development Report (HDR) published each year by UNDP. The 2023/24 edition, entitled Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining Cooperation in a Polarized World, warns that uneven development progress is leaving the poorest behind, exacerbating inequality and stoking polarization on a global scale. The report finds that international collective action is hindered by an emerging “democracy paradox”: while nine in ten people worldwide endorse democracy, over half of global survey respondents express support for leaders that may undermine it by bypassing fundamental rules of the democratic process. Half of people surveyed worldwide report having no or limited control over their lives, and over two-thirds believe they have little influence on their government’s decisions. Such feelings of powerlessness combined with growing political polarization are causing some countries to turn inward precisely when renewed cooperation is vital, the report concludes. Pronouncing “deglobalization” an irresponsible illusion, the report recommends collective action to create “a new generation of global public goods” to provide solutions to cross-border challenges such as climate change. “In a world marked by increasing polarization and division, neglecting to invest in each other poses a serious threat to our wellbeing and security,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner. “Protectionist approaches cannot address the complex, interconnected challenges we face, including pandemic prevention, climate change, and digital regulation. Our problems are intertwined, requiring equally interconnected solutions.”To learn more about the 2023/24 Human Development Report and UNDP’s analysis on navigating the new uncertainty complex, visit: https://www.undp.org/turkiye/publications/human-development-report-2023
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Press Release
05 March 2024
United Nations (UN) agencies in Türkiye will mark International Women's Day in Ankara with a collaborative event titled "Investing in Women for Progress"
Scheduled for 6 March 2024 at 9:15 am, the event will be held at the J.W. Marriott Ankara Hotel.The program features the Minister of Family and Social Services, Ms. Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, as the keynote speaker.This year's International Women's Day theme, "Investing in Wome: Accelerate Progress," highlights the crucial role of women in propelling social, economic, and cultural advancement worldwide.Members of the press are invited to cover the event.***Please inform unic-ankara@un.org about your participation in the event.
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Press Release
22 February 2024
Applications invited for journalism fellowships at the United Nations Headquarters
New York, NY. The Dag Hammarskjöld Fund for Journalists is now accepting applications from professional journalists for its 2024 fellowship program. The application deadline is April 5, 2024. The fellowships are available to radio, television, print and web journalists, age 25 to 35, who are interested in coming to New York to report on international affairs during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly during the opening 10 weeks. Travel and living accommodations in New York, as well as a per diem allowance, are provided. The fellowships are open to journalists who are native to the mainly developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Oceania and are currently working for media organizations. Applicants must demonstrate an interest in and commitment to international affairs and to conveying a better understanding of the U.N. to their readers and audiences. They must also have approval from their media organizations to spend up to three months in New York to report from the U.N. The program is not intended to provide basic skills training to journalists; all fellowship recipients must be media professionals.Journalists are selected each year after a review of all applications and given the incomparable opportunity to observe international diplomatic deliberations and to gain a broader perspective and understanding of matters of global concern. Many past fellowship recipients have achieved prominence in their professions and countries. Fellowship eligibility criteria and documentation requirements, as well as the fellowship application, can be found on the Fund’s web site at www.unjournalismfellowship.org. Questions about the program, eligibility and the application process can be directed by email to fellowship2024@unjournalismfellowship.org.Although the Fund is based at the U.N., it does not receive financial support from the world organization. The Fund was established as an independent entity by U.N. journalists over 60 years ago as a living memorial to the legacy of Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld. It continues to be operated by U.N. journalists and relies on financial support from U.N. Missions, foundations, organizations and individuals.
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Press Release
05 December 2023
First-ever Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs takes the helm at newly established United Nations Youth Office
Following the recommendation in the Secretary-General's groundbreaking report "Our Common Agenda", Member States unanimously agreed to the establishment of the UN Youth Office as a dedicated entity for youth affairs within the Secretariat, building upon more than a decade of work led by the Secretary-General's Envoys on Youth, and marking a pivotal breakthrough for the revitalization and expansion of the UN's engagement with and for youth.
Over many decades, the UN has made significant strides in advancing the rights and opportunities of young people. Youth empowerment is not just a matter of equity; it holds immense social and economic potential. Empowering young people drives vibrant societies, fosters innovation, and accelerates progress.
Yet, disparities affecting youth persist in every corner of the world. Young people face challenges such as limited access to education, employment and health services, and their voices often go unheard in decision-making processes.
"We are establishing a United Nations Youth Office in the UN Secretariat — building on nearly a decade of important work done by the two Envoys on Youth — to advance efforts towards stronger advocacy, coordination, and accountability for and with young people," said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
The establishment of the UN Youth Office marks a pivotal breakthrough for the revitalization and expansion of the UN's engagement with and for youth, with a focus on addressing these challenges and opportunities.
Guided by the UN’s systemwide youth strategy, Youth2030, the UN Youth Office will lead efforts to enhance collaboration, coordination and accountability on youth affairs, ensuring that the United Nations works effectively and inclusively with young people in all their diversity.
Through the fostering of multi-stakeholder intergenerational solidarity, the UN Youth Office's mission focuses on strengthening meaningful, inclusive and effective youth engagement across all pillars of the UN’s work, including sustainable development, human rights, and peace and security.
On 28 October 2023, the Secretary-General announced Dr. Felipe Paullier as the first Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs. Dr. Paullier officially assumes his mandate today, becoming the youngest ever senior appointment in the history of the UN.
“With the establishment of the UN Youth Office, we mark the start of a new era for the UN system,” said Dr. Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs. “As I assume my mandate, I am eager to begin meeting with young people from all corners of the world, both virtually and on-the-ground in their communities. Learning from young people’s experiences over the coming months will be critical in helping me to shape an action plan for the new Youth Office that ensures no young person is left behind.”
Dr. Paullier was previously the Director General of the National Youth Institute of Uruguay, a position he held since 2020. Prior to that, he served in various political management positions, including as Deputy Mayor in the Municipality of the CH jurisdiction of Montevideo (2015-2020) and Alternate Counsellor in the Montevideo Departmental Legislative Court (2010-2015). Dr. Paullier is a Medical Doctor specialized in Pediatrics by training.
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About the UN Youth Office
As an unwavering champion and advocate for young people everywhere, the UN Youth Office envisions a world in which all young people are meaningfully engaged in the decisions that affect them most. We lead system-wide collaboration, coordination and accountability on youth affairs, harmonizing the ways the United Nations works with and for young people in all their diversity. By fostering multi-stakeholder intergenerational solidarity, our work focuses on strengthening meaningful, inclusive and effective youth engagement in the areas of sustainable development, human rights, and peace and security. For more information, follow @UNYouthAffairs on social media.
For press enquiries:
Matthew Hunter
matthew.hunter@un.org
+1 (631) 829-4275
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Press Release
24 November 2023
UN Women marks 16 Days of Activism with #NoExcuse for violence against women campaign
Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Despite many countries passing laws to combat violence against women, weak enforcement and discriminatory social norms remain significant problems. Globally, an estimated 736 million women — almost one in three — have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, which kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day, calls for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
This year, the United Nations marks 16 Days under the theme UNiTE! Invest To Prevent Violence against Women & Girls. By using #NoExcuse as a slogan and hashtag, the campaign calls for financing different prevention strategies and transforming social norms to end violence against women and girls.
UN Women Türkiye’s #NoExcuse campaign underlines the importance of legal frameworks
Aligned with the global campaign, UN Women Türkiye launches #NoExcuse campaign to emphasize that violence against women cannot be tolerated under any circumstances, anywhere, and any time.
Throughout the 16 Days of Activism and beyond, #NoExcuse campaign underlines the importance of protective legal frameworks and calls for the effective implementation of laws to prevent violence against women. The campaign declares #NoExcuse for any forms of violence and violence against women is a human rights violation.
“As we launch the #NoExcuse campaign, we affirm our commitment to build a world where there is no violence against women and girls. The campaign this year aims to raise public awareness about the current legislation in Turkiye, to call for its effective implementation and for its further strengthening, on the basis of the international standards and recommendations. Throughout the 16 Days of Activism and beyond, together with our partners from civil society and public institutions, we will show that when implemented well, laws can protect and transform lives. We will emphasize the importance of knowledge among women and society as a whole on how they can exercise their rights, and the need for a multi-stakeholder approach to effective implementation of policies and laws, in which public institutions and women’s civil society organizations work in close collaboration,” says Asya Varbanova, UN Women Türkiye Country Director.
The Head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye, Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, welcomed the launch of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence: “Eliminating violence against women and advancing women’s rights and gender equality is at the top of European Union’s agenda, both internally and in our partner countries.”
UN Women Türkiye Launches #NoExcuse Campaign with an event in Ankara
The #NoExcuse campaign will be launched with an event in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye on 24 November 2023 in Ankara. The event will bring together civil society organizations, government officials, diplomatic representatives, and the media to express solidarity and commitment to end all forms of violence against women and girls.
At the event representatives from civil society organizations and youth will take the stage to say “No Excuse” to any forms of violence. Women-led civil society organizations will not only express their manifests and commitment to ending violence against women but also share how they have played a pivotal role in transforming the lives of women survivors.
As part of the launch event, an art performance will be showcased in collaboration with the artist and lawyer Kutlay Evrensel (@kutlayus). The artwork, curated in real-time, aims to highlight the importance of legal frameworks using key terminology.
Key facts from the world
Globally, an estimated 736 million women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life.
1 in 3 women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
In 2021, around 45,000 women and girls worldwide were killed by their intimate partners or other family members. This means that, on average, more than five women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their own family.
Intimate partner violence is the most common form of violence against women, affecting women across diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Less than 40 per cent of women who experience violence seek help of any sort.
Violence against women not only causes immense physical harm but also leads to severe psychological and emotional trauma.
A global study by the Economist Intelligence Unit found that 38 per cent of women have had personal experiences of online violence, and 85 per cent of women who spend time online have witnessed digital violence against other women.
According to the Rapid Gender Assessment surveys (RGAs) on the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 conducted by UN Women in 58 countries, 45 per cent of women reported that they or a woman they know has experienced a form of VAW since COVID-19
Key facts from Türkiye: (2014 Research on Domestic Violence against Women in Turkey)
4 of 10 women are exposed to intimate partner physical or sexual violence
Only 1 of 10 women exposed to violence apply to an institution for help;
3 of 10 women are married before they turn 18;
48 per cent of girls married by age 18 are exposed to physical violence;
11 per cent of women are prevented from working by their families;
90 per cent of human trafficking victims in Türkiye are women.
For media inquiries and further information, please contact:
Ebru Demirel, ebru.demirel@unwomen.org
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