Tag: UN

UN launches new app to help beat skin cancer

Stuart Mitchell

Scientific evidence shows that overexposure to UV radiation is the major cause of skin cancer. To help people protect themselves adequately, a consortium of UN agencies on Tuesday, launched an innovative new App that can help anyone, anywhere, determine the safe amount of time to stay outdoors, soaking up the rays.  The SunSmart Global UV App, is the collective brainchild of the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Five-day forecast “The SunSmart Global UV App provides…

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Women sweep UN’s 2021 ‘Champions of the Earth’ awards

Stuart Mitchell

According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the all-female Champions were chosen for their impact and leadership in advancing bold action on behalf of people and the planet. “These Champions of the Earth inspire, defend, mobilise and act to tackle the greatest environmental challenges of our time, including ecosystem protection and restoration”, the agency said in a statement. Environmental standard bearers The Champions of the Earth award is UN’s highest environmental honour. This year’s award recognises laureates in four categories: Inspiration and Action, Policy Leadership, Entrepreneurial Vision, and Science and…

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UN Launches Training Manual for the Meaningful Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities

Stuart Mitchell

On International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2021, UNESCO called for coordinated actions by private and public stakeholders in the Caribbean Small Island Developing States, SIDS, to remove barriers so persons with disabilities can fully enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms. A prerequisite for this is the advancing of legislation to protect these citizens from discrimination and exclusion and to ensure their meaningful participation in society on an equal basis with others. The Centre for Disability Studies at The University of the West Indies (UWICDS) and the United Nations…

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Aid organisations call on governments to give a single day’s military spending to fight hunger

Stuart Mitchell

Only 26 hours of global military spending is enough to cover the $5.5 billion needed to help most at risk A year on since the UN warned of “famines of biblical proportions”, rich donors have funded just 5 percent of the UN’s $7.8bn food security appeal for 2021. More than 250 NGOs have published an open letter calling upon all governments to urgently increase aid to stop over 34 million people, from being pushed to the brink of starvation this year. The $5.5bn additional funding recently called for by the…

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UN Calls for Action From the Global Business Community to Help End the Humanitarian Crisis of Seafarers

Stuart Mitchell

The UN Human Rights Office and the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, have joined the United Nations Global Compact in calling for businesses across the value chain to act and assess the human rights situation facing seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic. 800,000 seafarers are currently either stranded on vessels or prevented from returning to ships due to COVID-19 restrictions on travel and transit. Under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, all business enterprises should respect human rights throughout their operations, including during the transfer of…

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