Showing posts with label UNGA. Show all posts

Dec 10, 2015

10 December: Human Rights Day

12/10/2015
Human Rights Day is observed on December 10 every year.  It commemorates the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1950, the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V), inviting all States and interested organizations to observe 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.
The theme chosen for the year 2015 HRD is ‘Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always’. It marks the launch of a 1 year campaign commemorating two international human rights treaties International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Both of the treaties were adopted in 1966.
 
Human rights facts and figures
 
In 2014, Amnesty International recorded and investigated human rights abuses in 160 countries and territories around the world. Here are some of the most shocking statistics uncovered:
  • War crimes or other violations of the “laws of war” were carried out in at least 18 countries.
  • Refugees and migrants were – and still are – at particular risk.
  • More than 3,400 people drowned in the Mediterranean Sea in 2014. Armed groups committed abuses in 35 countries.
  • Nearly three-quarters of governments, around 119 countries out of 160, arbitrarily restricted freedoms. 82% (131 out of 160) of countries tortured or otherwise ill-treated people.

Dec 3, 2015

3rd December: International Day of Persons with Disabilities

12/03/2015
Every year 3rd December is the International Day of People with Disability/IDPwD. This is a day sanctioned by the United Nations and it celebrates progress by destroying barriers and opening doors for an inclusive society for all.
United Nations has estimated around one billion people are living with disabilities across the world and they are facing barriers of inclusion in many key aspects of society.
In 1992, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had passed a resolution 47/3 for annually observing 3rd December as International Day of Disabled Persons. It was originally called as International Day of Disabled Persons.

Nov 4, 2015

UNGA Disarmament Committee adopts draft resolution backing abolition of nuclear arms

11/04/2015
United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA) Disarmament Committee or First Committee has adopted a draft resolution calling for the abolition of nuclear arms.
The resolution was submitted by Japan and was adopted by 156 member countries, while 17 abstaining and 3 voting against it including China and Russia.
But it failed to secure endorsement US, Britain, France and other key powers as they abstained from voting despite supporting it.
 
Features of Resolution
  • Stresses the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and urges nuclear powers to be more transparent in their disarmament efforts.
  • Calls for efforts to raise awareness of the humanitarian impact of the use of nuclear weapons.
  • Asks world leaders to visit the two Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which were devastated by the nuclear attacks.
Since 1994, Japan has been spearheading efforts UNGA Disarmament Committee to introduce resolutions on nuclear arms every year.
The UNGA Disarmament Committee or First Committee deals with disarmament, threats to peace and global challenges that affect the international community. It seeks out solutions to the challenges in the international security regime.

Sep 27, 2015

UN adopts agreement on Sustainable Development Goals

9/27/2015
United Nations on 25 September 2015 unanimously adopted an ambitious agreement on the outcome document New Sustainable Development Agenda for the next 15 years i.e. till 2030.
The document in this regard was adopted in 70th session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and was announced by its President Mogens Lykketoft at the UN headquarters in New York.
 
Highlights
 
  • The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets of the agenda demonstrate the scale and ambition of this new universal Agenda. They seek to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what these did not achieve.
  • It seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom. This is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity.
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