Sport is about participation. It brings individuals, communities and countries together and, in doing so, often bridges cultural, ethnic and national divides. But the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the world of sport, both in the professional and in the recreational spheres. Many sporting events were postponed ... read more

In the run-up to the 11th session of the GA open-ended Working Group in 2021, the International Federation on Ageing, in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Argentina and Portugal, and in collaboration with DESA and OHCHR, organized a virtual town hall with Chair-elect H.E. Ms. María del Carmen Squeff ... read more

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, through its Division for Inclusive Social Development (DESA/DISD) has, since 2017, housed the substantive portfolio on sport for development and peace in the UN system. Guided by the UN Action Plan on Sport, UN DESA has been working to maximize the ... read more

For centuries, indigenous peoples worldwide have suffered from epidemics and pandemics brought to their communities by outsiders. This danger only intensified with increased global travel, trade and transportation. In the colonial era, epidemics served as a deadly tool of conquest, leading, in some cases, to the annihilation of entire indigenous ... read more

As the General Assembly holds a special session in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the side-event “Transforming agrifood systems and fostering inclusive rural development in the context of COVID-19 to end rural poverty” will analyze the economic, social and environmental potential of an inclusive process of agrifood system transformation ... read more

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is annually observed on 3 December to promote the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities and to take action for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society and development. This year, the International Day of ... read more

  The General Assembly, in its resolution 74/122, decided to devote one high-level meeting of the General Assembly, within existing resources, at its seventy-fifth session, in 2020, to the commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development, in order to celebrate the ... read more

On 19 November,  the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (Third Committee), of the 75th session of the General Assembly discussed Rights of Indigenous Peoples [item 69 (a)] The Committee then took up the draft resolution titled, “Rights of indigenous peoples” (document A/C.3/75/L.20/Rev.1), which the Chair said contains no programme budget implications. The ... read more

EGM: Indigenous Peoples and Pandemics Every year, the Indigenous Peoples and Development Branch within the Division for Inclusive Social Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs organizes an international expert group meeting (EGM) on a theme recommended by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and endorsed by the ... read more

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted by the General Assembly by its resolution 61/106 of 13 December 2006. It came into force on 3 May 2008 upon its 20th ratification. Article 40 of the Convention stipulates that “The States Parties shall meet regularly in a Conference of ... read more