MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY

This year, the world the world has embarked on implementing the ambitious and transformational 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  With its 17 universal, integrated and interdependent Sustainable Development Goals, the 2030 Agenda is an action plan for people, planet, partnership and peace.

Literacy stands at heart of the 2030 Agenda.  It is a foundation for human rights, gender equality, and sustainable societies.  It essential to all our efforts to end extreme poverty and promote well-being for all people.  That is why the Sustainable Development Goals aim for universal access to quality education and learning opportunities throughout people’s lives. More »

UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women, Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka,UN Resident Coordinator, Gana Fofang

The United Nations in South Africa all-female soccer team won 1-0 in a friendly match against the Vakhegula Vakhegula soccer team on Friday, 12 August 2016 at the CSIR soccer pitch in Pretoria. The match, in celebration of Women’s Month in South Africa, was aimed at bringing together women from various backgrounds who play a pivotal role in advancing the cause of disadvantaged and impoverished communities in their respective areas across the country. More »

Photo credit: www.returnofkings.com

The Minister of Health Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi says the low rate of exclusive breastfeeding in South Africa and many parts of the world is concerning as breastfeeding contributes to child survival.

“It is of great concern that exclusive breastfeeding rates globally and in our country are extremely low. Globally it is estimated that only 36% of moms breastfeed their infants for at least 6 months. In South Africa we estimate that only 39% of mothers breastfeed exclusively for 14 weeks after the baby is born and the figure is much lower at 6 months at only 8%. Our exclusive breastfeeding rates are amongst the lowest in the world. We must all work harder to ensure that we support mothers to exclusively breastfeed for at least six months and rapidly reach a target of at least 50% of mothers breastfeeding for at least 6 months after the infant in born. This will require an extra mile by all of us to encourage and support breastfeeding mothers by improving their workplace and social environment,” said the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. More »

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon plants a special a tree in honour of Mandela Day in Durban

UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon recently attended the official opening of the International AIDS Conference 2016 in Durban. During his visit, Mr Ban met with Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and other senior government officials as well as civil society leaders. The UN Chief addressed media on the Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on access to Medicines. More »

Sefako Makgatho Primary pupils 

The UN Information Centre Library in Pretoria was a hive of activity this morning where dozens of school children from Sefako Makgatho Primary School in Attridgeville diplomats, UN partners and members of the public gathered to mark International Nelson Mandela Day.

The focus of the event was a UN donation of 60 school bags to the children, produced by a company called DeskBags which pioneered the idea of a special bag in which children can carry their books and use the hard flap-side of the bag as a lap desk. Made from recycled vinyl billboard materials, the bag flap is reinforced with ABS plastic, ensuring a hard and stable surface for children to write on, and is an innovative solution to the challenge of lack of school desks where children kneel on dusty floors, using the ground as a writing surface. More »