For the Government of the Dominican Republic and the United Nations System, generating an inclusive and participatory space to listen, understand and welcome the points of view of the diversity of adolescents and young people is key to ensuring that the Cooperation Framework responds to concerns and needs of the present and future of the Dominican Republic, without leaving anyone behind. More than 80 young people and adolescents from all over the country participated. A full-day event was held with young people and adolescents from all over the national territory to capture the visions and reflections of adolescents and young people about the sustainable development of the Dominican Republic for the period 2023-2027. In the discussion space, ideas were heard from adolescents and young people about the mechanisms and strategies that the United Nations System in the country could implement to promote and sustain their participation in the Cooperation Framework in the next five years. Promoting visibility and strengthening social protection of people with disabilities in Georgia September 28, 2022 People with disabilities face a series of barriers every day, from discrimination and social exclusion to unequal access to public services, employment and education.
Communicating these challenges and sharing the experience of those living with disabilities to different groups – including children – is key to building more inclusive, accessible and equal societies around the world. Through the Joint SDG Fund , United Nations entities in Georgia share this short animation of Babi, a 7-year-old girl, who explains what it means to be a minor today who lives with a visual disability. The video is part of a broader strategy by the United Nations country team and its partners to strengthen social protection measures for CZ Leads persons with disabilities in Georgia and address the various factors that lead to social exclusion and marginalization . Launched in 2020 in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities ( CRPD ), the Georgia Joint Program for Integrated Social Protection, seeks transform the social protection system to better support and empower those living with disabilities throughout the country. “The joint efforts of the United Nations have driven transformative and lasting change for people who are too often left behind,” says Sabine Machl, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Georgia. With $2 million received from the Joint SDG Fund, the Program involves collaboration between UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women, WHO and OHCHR, as well as the Government, civil society and organizations of persons with disabilities.
Prelude to the SDG Moment: Roundtable of United Nations Resident Coordinators - 'Ambition, society as a whole, trust and action' September 22, 2022 Now more than ever before, dialogue between nations has been more critical. With the start of the United Nations General Assembly this week, it is an opportunity to exchange ideas and solutions that help solve the important challenges that humanity is currently experiencing and the urgency to help recover lost ground in the efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The SDGs, a to-do list for a better future In all parts of the world, people are affected by a triple crisis: conflict, COVID-19 and climate change. Prior to the SDG Moment, an annual event has taken place at the United Nations convened by the Secretary General, in which three resident coordinators of the United Nations and the Director of Policies and Programs of the Development Coordination Office (OCD) , have talked about advances and solutions at the scales necessary to lift up everyone, everywhere. “With a very young population in Uzbekistan, with more than 33% of the population under 18 years of age and 24% between 18 and 30 years of age, social transformation in favor of the SDGs requires social services and jobs,” warns Roli Ashtana, Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan. The United Nations supports the Government to encourage private investment and tax benefits in education; structural reforms for job creation and increased digitalization as an engine of economic growth, employment and productivity. Roli says that just three weeks ago, the governments of Switzerland and Uzbekistan signed a bilateral agreement on the return of confiscated assets.