"The United Nations is needed more than ever at this time of
multiple crises." - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
October 24 has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. In
1971, the United Nations General Assembly recommended that the day be
observed by Member States as a public holiday.
Dr Abe V Rotor
Living with Nature School on Blog
Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio
738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday
These are the international days
currently observed by the United Nations for the month of October
1 October
International Day of Older Persons .
2015 Theme: Sustainability and Age
Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment
"Making
cities inclusive of older persons means generating opportunities for their
economic and social participation in accessible and safe environments. It also
means providing affordable housing as well as the health and social services
needed to support ageing in place." Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Living
up to the Secretary-General's guiding principle of "Leaving No-One
Behind" necessitates the understanding that demography matters for sustainable
development and that population dynamics will shape the key developmental
challenges that the world in confronting in the 21st century. If our ambition
is to "Build the Future We Want", we must address the population over
60 which is expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2030.
2 October
International
Day of Non-Violence
The
Day is observed annually on 2 October, the birthday of Mr. Gandhi, who
pioneered the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.
"Gandhi
proved that non-violence – the principle and the practice – can change
history,” Mr. Ban noted. “His mass campaigns of non-violent civil disobedience
helped pave the way for the independence of India, and have inspired countless
movements for change across the world.”
During
an official visit to India in January, the UN chief visited Sabarmati Ashram,
which houses a library and museum chronicling Gandhi’s life, work and
teachings. “We will succeed only if the memory of Gandhi's unyielding fight
against injustice burns bright in our hearts and we defend his ideals every day
of the year,” he had said on the occasion.
5 October
According to UNESCO, World Teachers' Day represents a significant token of the awareness, understanding and appreciation displayed for the vital contribution that teachers make to education and development.
Education International (EI) (the global union federation that represents education professionals worldwide) strongly believes that World Teachers' Day should be internationally recognized and celebrated around the world. EI also believes that the principles of the 1966 and 1997 Recommendations should be considered for implementation in all nations.
Over 100 countries observe World Teachers' Day. The efforts of Education International and its 401 member organizations have contributed to this widely spread recognition. Every year, EI launches a public awareness campaign to highlight the contributions of the teaching profession.
5 October (first Monday in October)
World Habitat Day
2015 Theme: Public Spaces for All.
"High-quality public spaces
encourage people to communicate and collaborate with each other, and to
participate in public life. Public spaces can also provide basic services,
enhance connectivity, spawn economic activity and raise property values while
generating municipal revenue." Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
On 17 December 1985, the UN
General Assembly designated the first Monday of October of every year as World
Habitat Day.This year, the United Nations chose
the theme Public Spaces for All, which aims to recognize the challenges and issues around Public Spaces.
The streets and public spaces have
often been overlooked and undervalued, but are increasingly being considered
the backbone of cities. Public spaces are places which are accessible and
enjoyable by all without a profit motive and take on various spatial forms,
including parks, streets, sidewalks, markets and playgrounds.
Good public spaces enhance community
cohesion and promote health, happiness, and well-being for all citizens as well
as fostering investment, economic development and environmental sustainability. Well designed and managed public
spaces and streets are a key asset for a city’s livability and economy:
- Increases property values
- Multiplies retail activity
- Enhances safety
- Fosters social cohesion and equality
- Improves health and well-being
- Improves the environment
- Makes the city more attractive
- Promotes more effective and efficient transportation and mobility
The Sustainable Development Goals
highlight Public Spaces as a key and important topic. “Sustainable Development
Goals, by 2030, provide universal
access to safe, inclusive and accessible green and public spaces, in particular
for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.”
9 October
World Post Day theme for 2015
Theme: Tell us about the world you want to grow up in”.
"As the communication landscape
evolves, I see an important place in it for Posts, especially in this new
globalized world." Bishar Abdirahman Hussein
Director-General of the Universal Postal Union
Director-General of the Universal Postal Union
World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9
October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in
1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern. It was declared World Post Day by the UPU
Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. Since then, countries across the world
participate annually in the celebrations. The Posts in many countries use the
event to introduce or promote new postal products and services.
10 October
Theme:Dignity in mental health
Thousands of people with mental health conditions around the world are deprived of their human rights. They are not only discriminated against, stigmatised and marginalised but are also subject to emotional and physical abuse in both mental health facilities and the community. Poor quality care due to a lack of qualified health professionals and dilapidated facilities leads to further violations.
World Mental Health Day
(WHO) is observed on 10 October every year, with
the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues
around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.The
Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on
mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be
done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.
11 October
International Day of the Girl Child
2015 Theme: Innovating for Girls' Education.
2015 Theme: Innovating for Girls' Education.
This year, as the international community assesses progress under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) since their implementation in 2000 and launches the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for implementation by 2030, girls born at the turn of the millennium have reached adolescence, and the generation of girls born this year will be adolescents in 2030.
As we reflect on the achievements of
the past 15 years and plan sustainable development goals for the next 15, it is
an opportune time to consider the importance of social, economic, and political
investment in the power of adolescent girls as fundamental to breaking the
intergenerational transmission of poverty, violence, exclusion and
discrimination and to achieving equitable and sustainable development outcomes
13 October
International
Day for Disaster Reduction
Theme for 2015: Knowledge for Life
The
International Day for Disaster
Reduction (IDDR) encourages every citizen and government to take part in
building more disaster resilient communities and nations.The IDDR
started in 1989 with the approval by the United Nations General
Assembly. The UN General Assembly sees the IDDR as a way to promote a
global
culture of disaster reduction, including disaster prevention, mitigation
and
preparedness. Originally celebrated on the second Wednesday of October
(resolution 44/236, 22 December 1989), the UN General Assembly decided
to
designate October 13th as the date to celebrate the IDDR.
The focus of this year’s
International Day for Disaster Reduction is on the traditional, indigenous and
local knowledge which complement modern science and add to an individual’s and
societies’ resilience.
15 October
International Day of Rural Women theme 2015
This week, UN Women marks three UN
observances that reflect women's key role in development, beginning with International
Day for Rural Women on 15 October, World
Food Day on 16 October and International
Day for the Eradication of Poverty on 17 October .
Rural women, the majority of whom
depend on natural resources and agriculture for their livelihoods, make up over a quarter of the total world
population. In developing countries, rural women
represent approximately 43 per cent of the agricultural labour force, and produce, process and prepare much of the
food available, thereby giving them primary responsibility for food security.
Bearing in mind that 76 per cent of the extreme poor live in rural areas, ensuring rural women’s access to productive
agricultural resources empowers women and contributes to decreasing world
hunger and poverty..
UN Women supports the leadership and participation of rural women in
shaping laws, policies and programs on all issues that affect their lives,
including improved food and nutrition security, and better rural livelihoods.
Training equips them with skills to pursue new livelihoods and adapt technology
to their needs.
16 October
World Food Day
[FAO]
The official ceremony will commemorate FAO’s 70the
Anniversary and address the theme for World Food Day 2015, “Social
Protection and Agriculture: Breaking the Cycle of Rural Poverty”, and how
this links with the UN theme for Expo 2015, “The Zero
Hunger Challenge · United for a sustainable world”. (The 2014 Theme: Family Farming: Feeding the World, Caring for the Earth)
Highlights of the ceremony will
include the official presentation of the Milan Charter to the UN
Secretary-General, a manifesto that engages all citizens in the fight against
undernourishment, malnutrition and waste, while promoting equal access to
natural resources and sustainability. The Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, where
Mayors worldwide commit to coordinating international food policies, is another
important legacy document that will be presented. In addition to the keynote
speakers, the Heads of IFAD and WFP will speak during the ceremony and guests
will hear a few words from Pope Francis.
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
2015 Theme: Building a sustainable future: Coming together to end poverty and discrimination
"On this day we recommit to think, decide and act together against extreme poverty -- and plan for a world where no-one is left behind. Our aim must be prosperity for all, not just a few." Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year since 1993, to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries.
This year, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty holds particular significance because it will be the first observance following the formal adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals by the General Assembly of the United Nations. Within this new development framework, designed to replace and carry forward the aims of the Millennium Development Goals, all countries committed to “ending poverty in all its forms and dimensions.”
20 October
World Statistics Day
Official statistics help decision
makers develop informed policies that impact millions of people.
Improved data sources, sound statistical methods, new technologies and
strengthened statistical systems enable better decisions that eventually
result in better lives for all of us. On 20 October 2015, the global
statistical community will showcase their achievements and their ongoing
work to help this vision come true.
24 October
United Nations Day )
"The United Nations is needed more than ever at this time of multiple crises. [...] At this critical moment, let us reaffirm our commitment to empowering the marginalized and vulnerable. On United Nations Day, I call on Governments and individuals to work in common cause for the common good. " - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
24 October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly recommended that the day be observed by Member States as a public holiday.
24 October
World Development Information Day
The General Assembly in 1972 instituted World Development
Information Day to draw the attention of world public opinion to
development problems and the need to strengthen international
cooperation to solve them..The Assembly felt that improving the dissemination of information
and the mobilization of public opinion, particularly among young
people, would lead to greater awareness of the problems of development,
thus, promoting efforts in the sphere of international cooperation for
development.
27 October
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage [UNESCO] theme 2015
Theme 2015 is: “Archives at Risk: Protecting the World Identities”.
"We must act today to ensure that future generations can enjoy humanity’s common
audiovisual heritage tomorrow. This heritage carries lessons, information and
knowledge that are essential to share. It is a foundation of identity and belonging as
well as a wellspring of innovation and creativity." Irina Bokova (Director-General of UNESCO)
Audiovisual documents, such as films, radio and television programmes, are our common heritage and contain the primary records of the 20th and 21st centuries. They help to maintain the cultural identity of a people; but countless documentary treasures have disappeared since the invention of image and sound technologies that permit the peoples of the world to better share their experiences, creativity and knowledge.
All of the world's audiovisual heritage is endangered. Nowhere can it be said to be preserved, but through initiatives such as the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage and the Memory of the World Programme, the precious work of preservation professionals is given impetus to manage a range of technical, political, social, financial and other factors that threaten the safeguarding of our heritage.
It was in this context, that the General Conference in 2005 approved the commemoration of a World Day for Audiovisual Heritage as a mechanism to raise general awareness of the need for urgent measures to be taken and to acknowledge the importance of audiovisual documents as an integral part of national identity.
31 October
2015 Theme: Yet to be released
2014: Leading Urban Transformations
One billion people-one out of three urban dwellers-are living in slum conditions.
"In a world where already over half the population lives in urban areas, the human future is largely an urban future. We must get urbanization right, which means reducing greenhouse emissions, strengthening resilience, ensuring basic services such as water and sanitation and designing safe public streets and spaces for all to share."On 27 December 2013, the UN General Assembly decided to designate 31 October, beginning in 2014, as World Cities Day. The General Assembly recognizes the significance of equitable and adequate access to urban basic services as a foundation for sustainable urbanization and therefore to overall social and economic development.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
The United Nations encourages Governments and Habitat Agenda partners to use planned city extension methodologies to guide the sustainable development of cities experiencing rapid urban growth, in order to prevent slum proliferation, enhance access to urban basic services, support inclusive housing, enhance job opportunities and create a safe and healthy living environment.
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