United Nations is 64 yrs old
24-Oct-2008 09:17 AM

The United Nations (UN) celebrates its 63rd anniversary today. UN Agencies in Fiji will be setting up an Exhibition at the ‘UN Park’ beside the Suva City Library.

Members of the public in particular, school students have been invited to visit the stalls that will showcase various publications and other materials on UN Agencies and their programmes in the Pacific.

Secretary General of the UN, Ban ki Moon in a statement is calling on leaders of the world to play their part in keeping with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

“There is no time to lose. The United Nations must deliver results for a safer, healthier, more prosperous world. On this UN Day, I call on all partners and leaders to do their part and keep the promise.”

The eight (8) MDG goals were agreed by 189 countries in the Millennium Development Summit in 2000, and establish a clear set of development targets that are to be met by 2015 such as eradicating poverty and hunger, reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS and achieving gender equality.

“The Pacific is in danger of missing out on a number of critical targets and it is important that we focus on the MDG achievements and its measurement,” said Richard Dictus, UN Resident Coordinator.

He emphasised that climate change may in future even reverse some of the MDG gains.
While noting considerable achievements in education and health, he expressed concerns at recent data on poverty and gender.

In reaffirming their commitment to the MDGs, mid point between 2000 and 2015, the UN Agencies in close collaboration with regional partners, will focus on national and regional MDG reports as well as assisting Governments in MDG planning and costing.

Today’s exhibition ends at 3pm.

The UN agencies based in the Pacific are ESCAP, FAO, ILO, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNDSS, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNOCHA, UNOHCHR, WHO & WMO.