19- 20 November 2020
Men’s Parliament – Ms.Nardos Bekele-Thomas message of support.
Calling on men to engage as gender advocates AND speak out as active agents and stakeholders who CAN transform social norms, behaviours and gender stereotypes that perpetuate discrimination and inequality. Men and boys are essential allies in changing this scenario. We must move from awareness of the existence of violence, to taking collective accountability for creating a country where women and girls can live in safety.
Full Speech: http://www.un.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Mens-Parliament-2020-RC-Speech-KP-MS-.docx
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24 October 2020
MODEL UN DEBATE SOUTH AFRICA –
Despite progress made in previous decades, the food production, hunger and malnutrition nexus is facing strains caused by at least three rising trends in the past 20 years or so. The first is climate change-related shocks, which disrupt crop production, contributing to insecurity among subsistence farmers.
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16 October 2020
WORLD FOOD DAY – Guarantee affordable food for all through better policies on agriculture (Op-Ed by Nardos Bekele-Thomas)
Despite progress made in previous decades, the food production, hunger and malnutrition nexus is facing strains caused by at least three rising trends in the past 20 years or so. The first is climate change-related shocks, which disrupt crop production, contributing to insecurity among subsistence farmers.
See full speech: http://www.un.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/RC-Speech-FAO-World-Food-Programme-16_10_2020-1.docx
Opinion Piece: http://www.un.org.za/world-food-day-guarantee-affordable-food-for-all-through-better-policies-on-agriculture-op-ed-by-nardos-bekele-thomas/
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8 October 2020
African Child Trauma Conference 2020 – Children at increased risk of abuse and violence, as COVID-19 takes its toll
Children in South Africa face an increased risk of abuse and violence, as a result of the broad ranging impact of COVID-19. Organised by UNICEF and partners, this year’s conference culminated in the development and endorsement of an ‘Emergency Action Plan’ in response to the devastating impact of violence and abuse on children.
Remarks by Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas: http://www.un.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/African-Trauma-Conference-Talking-Points-Ms-Nardos-Bekele-Thomas-Trauma-Conference-8-October-second-draft.docx
Press Release: http://www.un.org.za/remarks-by-ms-nardos-bekele-thomas-at-the-africa-brand-summit-2020/
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30 September 2020
Remarks on the Threats Posed by COVID-19 on the People’s Democracy as a Value Creator in General, by Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas at the Commonwealth Africa Day event
The Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature hosted the webinar to commemorate the Commonwealth Africa Day. Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, called fro strengthening of partnerships between the UN and the Eastern Cape Provincial Government and legislature, as well as the private sector, in areas such as health, education, social protection, productive sectors (such as SMME development and agriculture), infrastructure development and so on. By undertaking joint initiatives in these various areas, we truly believe we can together achieve more rapidly and with greater effectiveness our shared goals of a fairer and more prosperous South Africa, she said. The event was attended by government representatives and representatives from diplomatic missions from across Africa.
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29 September 2020
UNDP SDG Investor Map 2020 Launch
UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, called for increased private sector participation, investments and innovative ideas to shift towards sustainable consumption and production saying, with the SDG Investor Map, we hope to support the government, allow intergration of scattered data and design to serveas a tool to that facilitates engagement that translates into actions for greater implementation of the global goals.
See press release: http://www.un.org.za/undp-lauches-the-south-africa-sdg-investor-map/
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28 September 2020
Visit to the University of Pretoria: Future Africa and Engineering 4.0 Institute
A United Nations delegation, led by Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, UN Resident Coordinator in South Africa, today visited the University of Pretoria: Future Africa and Engineering 4.0. In terms of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, innovation, infrastructure and sustainable cities and communities are critical for developing any economy. This new hub is aimed at installing UP as a leader in this field and making a distinct contribution to these goals.
Press Release: Head of UN in South Africa tours University of Pretoria’s Future Africa Institute Campus http://www.un.org.za/press-release-head-of-un-in-south-africa-tours-university-of-pretorias-future-africa-institute-campus/
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21 September 2020
Brotherhood and Sisterhood Gender-Based Violence Conference
Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, UN Resident Coordinator in South Africa, alluded to the fact that the silence on violence against women and children and the impunity with which this happens has been broken. She stressed that Silence Begets Violence calling for collective action and closed off saying, Not in my name!
See full remarks by Ms. Bekele-Thomas HERE: http://www.un.org.za/remarks-by-ms-nardos-bekele-thomas-on-the-brotherhood-and-sisterhood-gender-based-violence-conference/
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11 September October
Remarks by Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas on the Brotherhood and Sisterhood Gender-Based Violence Conference
The South African story of a peaceful transition to democracy has been lauded the world over. Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu called it his rainbow nation. It was something to behold. But the light is fading on this rainbow as the veil is lifted to expose a demon, a fiend and an enemy!
See full remarks: http://www.un.org.za/remarks-by-ms-nardos-bekele-thomas-on-the-brotherhood-and-sisterhood-gender-based-violence-conference/
PRESS RELEASE: “Silence begets violence…not in my name,” says Head of United Nations in South Africa
http://www.un.org.za/press-release-silence-begets-violencenot-in-my-name-says-head-of-united-nations-in-south-africa/
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21 August 2020
STATUS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN TIME OF CRISIS: Redefining and Strengthening Human Rights Activism and Development work in the Context of COVID-19
In her opening remarks, Ms Bekele-Thomas reminded us that, the year 2020, which marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, which was intended to be ground-breaking for gender equality and women’s rights. However, despite our efforts not a single country today can claim to have achieved gender equality. Instead, the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has forestalled States’ efforts and in many respects, the gains made in the past decades are at risk of being rolled back. She noted that, in South Africa, the crisis engendered by COVID19 is manifesting itself against a background of prevalent sexual gender based violence (SGBV) and harmful practices against women and girls, including rape, femicide, ukuthwala, the killing of “witches”, and forced virginity testing. These are some of the violations that international and local human rights bodies including the CEDAW Committee have urged South Africa to review. The online discussion was organised by Ilitha Labanthu to mark women’s month in South Africa.
See remarks: http://www.un.org.za/remarks-by-ms-nardos-bekele-thomas-on-redefining-and-strengthening-human-rights-activism-and-development-work-in-the-context-of-covid-19/
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20 August 2020
Opening statement by Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas,UN Resident Coordinator at the Launch of “THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF COVID-19 IN SOUTH AFRICA” STUDY
This study is one of the UN‘s initiatives to support the Government of South Africa to confront the challenges of Covid-19, with WHO at the helm of consultations with the Government on the health crises. Under the leadership of UNDP, other knowledge products under development include the Emergency Needs Assessment of Covid-19, the Digitalized Dashboard that could be used as Accountability Framework for tracking progress, and the study on the Governance and Social Impact of Covid-19. Uncovering details of the most vulnerable groups from COVID-19 is essential for the UN, as we move towards implementing the UNSDCF 2020-25, which is the framework used for guiding our activities in South Africa. The study therefore will help us contribute to the Government’s development efforts and to channel our resources to ensure No One is Left Behind – one of the key tenets of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Press Release: http://www.un.org.za/press-release-united-nations-development-programme-south-africa-releases-the-socio-economic-impact-assessment-of-covid-19-in-south-africa-study/
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14 August 2020
DIRCO Women’s Month Webinar “Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights for an Equal Future” – Remarks by Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas http://www.un.org.za/dirco-womens-month-webinar-generation-equality-realising-womens-rights-for-an-equal-future-remarks-by-ms-nardos-bekele-thomas-un-resident-coordinator/
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12 August 2020
Remarks by Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, UN Resident Coordinator in SA on International Youth Day Remarks by Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, UN Resident Coordinator in SA on International Youth Day
http://www.un.org.za/remarks-by-ms-nardos-bekele-thomas-un-resident-coordinator-in-sa-on-international-youth-day/
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6 August 2020
Opening remarks for the Australian High Commissions Launch of the Individual Deprivation Measure (IDM) and the South Africa IDM Study by Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, UN Resident Coordinator
The UNs commitment to assist the government and people of South Africa remains resolute despite the grip of this awful pandemic. There has never been a greater need for international cooperation and for international institutions to facilitate it. We must seize this opportunity to play our part in preserving life, dignity, livelihoods and to help South Africans build back a better, safer country.
See full remarks here: http://www.un.org.za/opening-remarks-for-the-australian-high-commissions-launch-of-the-individual-deprivation-measure-idm-and-the-south-africa-idm-study-by-ms-nardos-bekele-thomas-un-resident-coordinator/
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23 July 2020
INTERVIEW on eNCA TV: Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, UN Resident Coordinator in South Africa, shades light on the significance of the UN Secretary-General delivering the 18th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture 2020.
View interview here: https://youtu.be/v1tmG9Pt1qc
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5 June 2020
WORLD ENVIROMENT DAY: Remarks by the UN South Africa Resident Coordinator on World Environment Day 2020
http://www.un.org.za/un-south-africa-resident-coordinators-message-world-environment-day-2020/
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14 April 2020
UN head in SA calls for faster implementation of SDGs
http://www.un.org.za/wp-admin/post.php?post=23764&action=edit
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22 January 2020
Remarks of the UN Resident Coordinator at the launch of World Economic Situation Report in South Africa
Over the past 4 years of implementation we have seen significant response to the SDG agenda from national Governments, cities, local authorities, civil society, the private sector, academia, youth and other actors. This has translated into some progress on key indicators but overall there is acknowledgement that progress is not at the pace required the realise transformative change.
See full remarks: http://www.un.org.za/remarks-of-the-un-resident-coordinator-at-the-launch-of-world-economic-situation-report-in-south-africa/
