United Nations
"Our times demand a new definition of leadership - global leadership. They demand a new constellation of international cooperation - governments, civil society and the private sector, working together for a collective global good."
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon -2009
UN Deputy Secretary General warns that gender discrimination is too widespread (14 February 2012)
United Nations Member States must boost economic empowerment for women to help them realize the global community’s common goals, Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro urged today, warning that gender discrimination around the world was still too widespread.
“Too many countries still have discriminatory laws on the books. Laws that prevent women from inheriting property, laws that restrict women’s freedom, and laws that undermine women’s rights are all laws that must be repealed,” Ms. Migiro said in her closing remarks to the Non-Aligned Movement’s (NAM) ministerial meeting on the advancement of women in Doha, Qatar.
The UN has recently argued that unleashing women’s economic potential can promote economic growth and recovery faster and more equitably while also paving the way for other women’s rights – a necessary step in achieving the anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by their 2015 deadline.
Ms. Migiro also pointed to the progress made by the UN’s youngest aency, UN Women, noting that as it entered its second year, it was determined to do even more to deliver on the Organisation’s promises to advance women’s issues, including leadership and political participation, the expansion of economic opportunities, working for an end to gender-based violence, and increasing women’s contributions to peace. For more information on Ms Migiro's address please go to the link.
UN Secretary-General announces his priorities (January 2012)
At the final press conference (January 2012) concluding the first term of the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon announced his main priorities for his second five-year term. He has identified five big themes as his main priorities, which already largely constituted the heart of his action during his first term (2007-2011). The five “generational” themes are: promoting sustainable development; preventing natural and man-made crises and disasters; making the world safer and more secure; helping countries and peoples in transition; and encouraging gender empowerment.
Sustainable development will remain a key concern for the United Nations. Increasingly, it is needed to find sustainable solutions to guarantee development and economic growth around the world. The High-level Global Sustainability Panel (GSP), launched by the Secretary-General in August 2010 with the mandate to examine the means of the international community to promote sustainable development, will make its report available in the course of January 2012.
Within the framework of more solidarity, the UN Secretary-General envisages a more practical and modernised approach for the Organisation in order to better cope with the rapid evolution of societies. The UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), to be held in June 2012, will need to put sustainable development and cooperation at the core of international policy-making. The Secretary-General noted that a global challenge can only be addressed through a global solution. Although the international community had started to move on decisions made during past sustainable development conferences, he cautioned that many efforts still need to be made, especially before the Conference will take place in June.
Besides from focussing on sustainable development, Ban Ki-moon underlined his dedication to continue strengthening women, children and young people. Following the Arab Spring, it has become clear that more voice needs to be given to those that fight for democracy. Moreover, the role that women play within the process of peace and development needs to be further recognised and promoted, among others through UN Women.
Within the framework of changing geopolitical relations, the Secretary-General reiterated that the UN will provide those countries in transition with the technical and logistical means to guarantee fair election processes. He welcomed the results obtained by the UN envoy in Yemen who mediated the creation of a government of national unity within the county, as well as the encouraging results of his “good offices” in Myanmar. The support given to countries in transition has become a new challenge for the international community in assuring a world that is more secure.
To conclude, the Secretary-General highlighted the importance of using diplomatic prevention, as well as mediation to prevent and solve conflicts. He said it was fundamental to strengthen the rule of law and the International Criminal Court (ICC) as part of the UN’s efforts to improve security and to ensure that people can have the democratic changes they aspire.
At the time of announcing his priorities, the Secretary-General further underlined the linkages between the different priorities, as well as global challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, food and energy security, and women’s empowerment, stressing that it was important to unite and connect them to make future solutions more effective. Moreover, the organisation will need to respond to the expectations of citizens around the world, and in order to do this, new partnerships will need to be developed to ensure that people’s voices are heard and political transitions guaranteed.
“We have seen so many people – marginalised people, oppressed people – who have been yearning for democracy, their dignity and human rights. We have heavy responsibility to help them in transition to democracy,” he said.