The Race is On to Choose the Next UN Secretary-General!
This year marks the last year in office for 51³Ô¹Ï Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, which means that the race is on to selected a new SG to lead the organization for the next five years. ÌýThe post of Secretary-General has been described as the most impossible job in the world, while the official UN says the job is Equal parts diplomat and advocate, civil servant and CEO. Ìý
In the past the selection of the Secretary-General has been done via a process shrouded in mystery and not accessible to the average citizen.Ìý But this year the process is moving into the 21st century with candidates participating in town halls and taking questions submitted via social media from people all over the world.Ìý Ìý
Government of India Donates $200,000 to help UNAI Engage, Inform and Empower Academic & Research Communities
The Permanent Mission of India to the 51³Ô¹Ï has donated $200,000 to 51³Ô¹Ï Academic Impact to support UNAI's outreach, engagement and advocacy initiatives with education and research communities around the world.
This is the fourth year the Government of India has contributed financially to the work of UNAI, activities that Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, Permanent Representative of India to the UN, says are integral to achieving Agenda 2030. UNAI's focus on weaving academic work throughout the world to contribute to overall development can play a critical role in realizing the Sustainable Development Goals, and we hope this contribution will help UNAI in its mission.ÌýÌýÌýÌý
The UNAI trust fund helps the initiative offer a broad platform to over 1,000 member institutions in more than 120 countries to share resources, ideas and innovations for the purposes and principles of the 51³Ô¹Ï agenda.
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Youth for Peace International Law Competition Open for Submissions!
UNAI member institution, , one of the oldest universities of Republic of Belarus, is pleased to announce the call for applications for its international law competition Youth for Peace, the culmination of which will be a conference from 26 to 29 September 2016 in Minsk, Belarus.
Youth for Peace is an annual student competition on international law in Eastern Europe which attracts student teams from all around the world. In previous ten years, students from more than 38 countries have attended the competition.
This unique competition will provide an opportunity for students to enrich and extend their knowledge in international humanitarian law, international public law and human rights law through participation in the simulated armed conflict.
What is Past is Prologue: Lessons Learned from Combating Pan-Epidemics
By Daniel R. Lucey
A appointed 2 AprilÌý2015 by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moonÌýstated in its 25 JanuaryÌý2016 report titledÌý that, The Ebola outbreak in West Africa was a preventable tragedy. If the outbreak had been detected faster, and concerted international action had been mounted more rapidly, the spread of the disease could have been contained, and thousands of lives could have been saved.
The Human Rights Dimensions of Zika
By Alexandra Phelan & Lawrence O. Gostin
Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases reveal the root causes of ill-health worldwide: poverty, inequality, and discrimination. The current Zika virus outbreak is no different, exposing systemic injustices in global health. How can we safeguard human rights during the Zika epidemic and beyond, including international law, justice, and health equalities?
Promoting Gender Equality for Innovation
In September 2015 the international community adopted the 2030 Agenda, which included 17 Sustainable Development Goals. ÌýWhile these goals cover a range of issues almost all of them have goals related to gender embedded in them. ÌýThis is in large part due to the realization by governments, civil society and other stakeholders that when women are included across all sectors of society communities benefit. Ìý
World Meteorological Day: as extreme weather becomes 'the new normal,' UN urges bold climate action
23 March 2016 – Observing the World Meteorological Day, 51³Ô¹Ï Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today that extreme weather events are becoming the new normal and bold climate action is needed to face the future now.
Only by responding decisively to the climate challenge can we avoid the worst impacts of climate change and lay the foundations of a world of peace, prosperity and opportunity for all, the UN chief said in a message on the Day.
The window of opportunity for limiting global temperature rise to well below two degrees Celsius – the threshold set under the Paris Agreement adopted last December – is narrow and rapidly shrinking, Mr. Ban warned, noting that the effects of a warming planet will be felt by all, including rising sea levels, and extreme weather events, which are becoming the new normal.
World Water Day Reminds Us of the Value of a Precious Resource
World Water Day is commemorated each year on 22 March and serves as a time to remind people of the precious resource that we often take for granted.ÌýÌý Some 650 million people, almost one in 10 of the world&rsquos population, do not have the access to improved sources of drinking water and one in three lacks improved sanitation, putting them at risk of infectious diseases and premature death.
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When Home is Where the Harm Is: Combating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the Home
For many people the home is a safe space where they feel protected and secure, but for too many women and girls around the world, home is where they face violence and abuse at the hands of family members. ÌýA recent conference entitled When Home Is Where the Harm Is: Family Law Reform to Challenge Gender-Based Violence sought to explore solutions to this problem that impacts millions of women globally.
Happy International Pi Day!
Pi Day is celebrated today, 14 March,Ìýround the world. Pi (Greek letter Ï€) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159.ÌýPi has been calculated to over one trillion digits beyond its decimal point. As an irrational and transcendental number, it will continue infinitely without repetition or pattern. While only a handful of digits are needed for typical calculations, Pi's infinite nature makes it a fun challenge to memorize, and to computationally calculate more and more digits.
In this postÌýDr. Balkrishna Shetty, former Ambassador of India to Bahrain, Senegal and Sweden, looks back on his life with Pi.
Consumerism and Climate Change: How the Choices You Make Can Help Mitigate the Effects of Climate Change
This is the fourth article of the UNAIÌýFood Security and Climate ChangeÌýseries. Schools and departments which specialise in climate change and food security at UNAI member institutions were asked to submit articles highlighting research and work encompassing the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals and to showcase the importance of sustainable agriculture to mitigate the dangerous effects of climate change, whilst ensuring present and future food security. Please note that the articles are for discussion, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the 51³Ô¹Ï.
Global Models Must Meet Grassroots Action to Deliver Climate Solutions for Farmers
This is the third article of the UNAI 'Food Security and Climate Change' series. Schools and departments which specialise in climate change and food security at UNAI member institutions were asked to submit articles highlighting research and work encompassing the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals and to showcase the importance of sustainable agriculture to mitigate the dangerous effects of climate change, whilst ensuring present and future food security. Please note that the articles are for discussion, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the 51³Ô¹Ï.
'The world needs science and science needs women,' says UN on new International Day
11 February 2016 – More than ever today, the world needs science and science needs women, the Director-General of the 51³Ô¹Ï Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization () said today markingÌýthe firstÌý.
The Intimate Relationship between Food Security and Land
This is the second article of the UNAI 'Food Security and Climate Change' series. Schools and departments which specialise in climate change and food security at UNAI member institutions were asked to submit articles highlighting research and work encompassing the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals and to showcase the importance of sustainable agriculture to mitigate the dangerous effects of climate change, whilst ensuring present and future food security. Please note that the articles are for discussion, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the 51³Ô¹Ï.
The World's Food Supply is Made Insecure by Climate Change
This is the first article of the UNAI 'Food Security and Climate Change' series. Schools and departments which specialise in climate change and food security at UNAI member institutions were asked to submit articles highlighting research and work encompassing the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals and to showcase the importance of sustainable agriculture to mitigate the dangerous effects of climate change, whilst ensuring present and future food security. Please note that the articles are for discussion, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the 51³Ô¹Ï.