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UN observes the International Day of Rural Women
15/10/2009
Thursday, on the occasion of International Day of Rural Women UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for putting the rights, needs and aspirations of rural women much higher on the global agenda.
Mr. Ban said today many rural women still face severe deprivation in enjoying their rights. Farhan Haq is the UN Chief's Associate Spokesperson.
"The Secretary-General calls for increased investments in the resources, infrastructure and services which would ease rural women's workloads and release their time and energy for engagement in the labor market and public life."
The International Day of Rural Women has been observed since 2007 and serves to highlight the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.
Gail Walker, United Nations Radio
(duration: 50")
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Remittance fees, an untapped potential
22/10/2009
Every year, African workers around the world send home over 40 billion US dollars, and, if those remittances were not subject to restrictive laws and costly fees, the money could help lift people out of poverty.
This is the conclusion made by the International Fund for Agricultural Development?in its new report called Sending Money Home to Africa?presented on Thursday in Tunis, Tunisia.
The report demonstrates how the highly expensive transfer costs, which can go as high as 25 per cent, could be used for development.
The UN's rural poverty agency also highlights how post offices and small retail office outlets can use new technologies, like cell phones, to increase the reach of remittance services.
IFAD's Assistant President, Kevin Cleaver, argues that linking remittances to financial services like microfinance can allow the very poor to save and potentially invest in the development of their community.
Jocelyn Sambira, United Nations Radio
(duration: 55")?
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Red Cross and Red Crescent call for action to stop road accidents
13/11/2009
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is calling on governments to pass and enforce traffic laws to reduce deaths and injuries caused by road accidents.
On the eve of the first ever ministerial conference on road safety to be held in Moscow next week, the IFRC?says nearly 1.3 million people die and up to 50 million are injured on the road each year.
The agency says the numbers of people who die in road crashes continue to rise in middle and low-income countries, thus adding to the economic hardships faced by people in these countries.
IFRC's Under-Secretary-General for Development, Matthias Schmale, says what is particularly unacceptable is that young people are paying the highest price.
"Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death in the 15 to 29 year old group and the second cause of death for 5 to 14 year olds. On top of this, bread winners die or are left paralyzed. Families' futures are crushed and medical bills overwhelm the family budget. In other words, road crashes fuel poverty."
Matthias Schmale says in developing countries estimates put the cost of road crashes to between 1 and 3 of the Gross National Product.
The IFRC is urging governments to pass and enforce traffic laws to reduce speeding, to fix strict limits on drinking and driving and to make the use of seat belts and helmets mandatory.
It is also calling for inclusion of First Aid in school curriculum and to train more drivers in First Aid.
Jocelyne Sambira, United Nations
(duration: 1'32)
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World Diabetes Day is observed on 14 November
13/11/2009
The United Nations is observing 14 November as World Diabetes Day to raise global awareness of the escalating rate of the disease around the world and how to prevent it.
In his message on the occasion of the Day, United Nations Secretary-General is calling on the international community and development agencies to support developing countries to prevent the disease and increase access to health care.
The Secretary-General says that prevention can help reduce poverty, promote economic productivity and keep countries on track in their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
The?World Health Organization estimates that more than 220 million people worldwide have diabetes and this number is likely to double by 2030 without intervention.
According to the United Nations health agency, almost 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle-income countries.
World Diabetes Day was started by the International Diabetes Federation and WHO to mark the birthday of Frederick Banting who was instrumental in the discovery of insulin in 1922, a life-saving treatment for diabetes patients.
Jocelyne Sambira, United Nations
(duration: 1'11")
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Human Rights Day: 'Embrace diversity, end discrimination'
10/12/2009
The?Human Rights Day?is observed each year on December 10th to commemorate the adoption of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says discrimination; intolerance and prejudice remain rampant around the world despite the adoption of numerous conventions and international laws dedicated to the elimination of discrimination in all its manifestations. She says racial and ethnic discrimination are some of the most dangerous forms of discrimination.
"Discrimination may start with words, but it can also very easily end in violence, ranging from someone being beaten up in the street because of their clothing or skin color to more systematic persecution, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity, including genocide. The problem begins inside each and every one of us. To end discrimination, we have to legislate fiercely against it, implement that legislation and ensure that all forms of discrimination are strongly discouraged, both by word and by deed, at both the state level and the personal level. You cannot defeat discrimination by shutting your eyes to it and hoping it will go away. Complacency is discrimination's best friend."
The High Commissioner says discrimination feeds mistrust, resentment, violence, crime, and insecurity and makes no economic sense, as it reduces productivity.
Patrick Maigua, UN Radio, Geneva.
(duration: 1'49")
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