The United Nations SDG Action Campaign
1,130,000 people have answered MY World, the United Nations global survey to citizens- voting for education, health, honest and responsive government and jobs as basis for a better future.
Results from MY World are being presented to world leaders during the 68th UN General Assembly session in New York through a report and an innovative and interactive new exhibit called “Listening to ONE MILLION Voices.”
Continue reading “Over one million people speak at the United Nations”
Rio de Janeiro, April 1st 2013 – The Director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign, Ms. Corinne Woods, arrives in Brazil tomorrow for an official visit aimed at strengthening collaboration with the Brazilian Government and civil society organizations in the context of the post-2015 development agenda.
During her stay in the country, between April 2nd and 5th, Ms. Woods will meet young girls, slum dwellers and indigenous communities to listen to their claims and visions for the new development agenda to be in place after the expiration of the Millennium Development Goals in 2015. Brazil’s national consultations for the post-2015 scenario are being facilitated by the United Nations in collaboration with the Government. The results of the consultations will be submitted to the High- Level Panel that will produce the report to the UN Secretary-General to advise him on the post-2015 global development agenda. Continue reading “Director of UN Millennium Campaign arrives in Brazil for official visit and dialogue with civil society organisations”
Sometimes a simple action can capture a moment of change, can sum up all the words, charts and PowerPoint slides that we churn out from day to day.
All the hopes and aspirations we place into the idea of empowerment and equality.
This particular action was in a village in the state of Uttar Pradesh in Northern Indian and it involved no more or less than a “charpoy”, a traditional sitting bench, and a young woman called Devika.
A scene that many of you working in development will recognize: The team of development workers arrives in the village and the charpoy is bought out and the visitors and men of the village sit to talk. Around them gathers the village—lanky teenage boys staring, sinewy old men dressed in white cotton leaning on sticks, small grubby children dressed in oversized party dresses falling off their shoulders and old toothless women crouching on the floor. So we talked, of polio and nutrition, of births and water pumps—and then we asked about “school and girls.” Much nodding of heads and shouting. Then, through the crowd came a slender girl, pristine, wearing a powder blue shalwar kameez. She sat on the “charpoy.” She didn’t stand or crouch, she took her place with the elders and talked, telling us about her girls club and the work they did for children with polio. “And your mother,” we asked. She pointed to an old toothless woman squatting on the floor.
This moment when Devika literally took her place at the table—despite her youth and her gender—is one we should strive to repeat in everything we do. Empower young people, and particularly young women, to speak up and contribute to the larger discussion. Let’s ensure that the millions of Devikas know that they have a place at the table and have their say.
We, at the United Nations want to hear from you!
Vote for what’s important to improve your life and the world around us at My World 2015.
Join citizens worldwide and help build on the successes of the Millennium Development Goals.
Your results will be submitted to the Secretary General´s High Level Panel for Post-2015 and will feed into their final report and recommendations for a new development framework in May 2013.
By Corinne Woods, Director of the UN Millennium Campaign
