Conflict, terrorism, economic turmoil, natural calamities, disease: we are living in an era of unprecedented crises and troubles, as United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has warned.

Record numbers of people are fleeing war and persecution, and the international community is grappling with acute migration challenges in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, in the Andaman Sea, Latin America and Africa.

For human traffickers, these hardships represent business opportunities.

Ensuring Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns: An Essential Requirement for Sustainable Development

By Arab Hoballah and Sandra Averous

Goal 12 of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) proposed by the Open Working Group (OWG) of the General Assembly of the United Nations is aiming at ensuring sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns. Why is this an imperative for sustainable development?

The Importance of SCP

Nelson Mandela International Day is an annual call to action for people around the world to make a difference in the communities where they live and work by taking time to serve others. 

The theme behind the Day – “Take action, Inspire change” – highlights the importance of working together to build a peaceful, sustainable and equitable world.

Cities Will Play and Important Role in Achieving the SDGs

By Kristie Daniel

A vision for cities has never been more important than it is today. More than half of the world’s inhabitants live in cities and this migration trend is expected to continue. By 2050 more than two-thirds of the world will be urban dwellers. India alone is expected to double the number of city dwellers by adding 404 million new people to cities over the next 35 years.[1]

I welcome this first-ever commemoration of World Youth Skills Day.  On July 15th each year, the international community will underscore the value of helping young people to upgrade their own abilities to contribute to our common future.

            While overall more young people have greater educational opportunities than in the past, there are still some 75 million adolescents who are out of school, denied the quality education they deserve and unable to acquire the skills they need.

A Sustainable Future of Infrastructure

By Grete Faremo

UNOPS has a key role to play in building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation

I thank the Government and people of Ethiopia for their generosity and hospitality in hosting this historic Conference.

I am grateful to the many Heads of State and Government and Ministers who have joined us here to show their strong commitment to the implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.

2015 must be a year for global action.

In September, in New York, the international community will adopt a new set of sustainable development goals for the coming 15 years.

Not since the end of the Second World War have so many people been forced from their homes across the planet. With nearly 60 million individuals having fled conflict or disaster, women and adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable.  Violent extremists and armed groups are committing terrible abuses that result in trauma, unintended pregnancy and infection with HIV and other diseases.  Shame and accountability rest squarely on the shoulders of the perpetrators who wage cowardly battles across the bodies of innocents.

The theme of this year’s observance of the International Day of Cooperatives -- “Choose cooperatives, choose equality” -- highlights the invaluable role of cooperatives in making the vision of a sustainable future a reality for everyone.

Long before I became Secretary-General, the United Nations occupied a special place in my life.  I was six years old when the Korean War broke out.  I have memories of my village in flames as my family sought refuge in nearby mountains.  But another sight is even more lasting: the UN flag.  We were saved from hunger by UN food relief operations; we received textbooks from Unesco; and when we wondered whether the outside world cared about our suffering, the troops of many nations sacrificed their lives to restore security and peace.