On 13 January, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Anna Marttinen- Pont of Finland as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Equatorial Guinea, with the host Government’s approval.
FGM is prevalent in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. It has no health benefits, and, as the World Health Organization reports, it can pose serious threats to women and future newborns.
Millions of people around the world do not have access to quality education and are facing poverty, violence, and other forms of exploitation and abuse.
Having commenced my role as UN Resident Coordinator in China almost one year ago, it is a privilege to lead the United Nations in China in this new year and at this auspicious moment as the Games return to Beijing.
As the world marked the fourth International Day of Education on 24 January, we need a renewed engagement to transform education and build a better future for our children in line with the promises of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is well established that the key to a better future for children in any country lies in quality education. It is no different for Lesotho, a demographically young lower-middle-income country where nearly 40 percent of the population is under 18.
Today, on International Day of Education, let us take a moment to reflect on the value of learning, and consider, through the lenses of five stories of people from different regions, cultures, age groups, and abilities, how we could support the work of UN country teams established across 162 countries and territories around the world on making education accessible for all.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Senegal, Siaka Coulibaly, went with the UN country team on a field mission to the regions of Saint Louis and Matam in Northern Senegal from 15 to 19 November 2021. He shares his perspectives.
"It is young people who can tip the balance to the right side in the fight against climate change," reminded Manal Bidar, a young activist from the city of Agadir, Morocco, who is committed to climate action.
The Panama Canal Museum opened its doors to commemorate Human Rights Day and the 20th Anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, which embodies the world’s commitment to tackle racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
