Launched by the United Nations in September 2018 by more than 30 founding media organizations – encompassing more than 100 media and entertainment outlets – the SDG Media Compact seeks to inspire media and entertainment companies around the world to leverage their resources and creative talent to advance the Sustainable Development Goals.
IN FOCUS: REDUCING INEQUALITIES
Ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (22-25 Jan), our editorial package highlights SDG Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities – with a special focus on fair trade and inclusive economic development.
Growing inequality has major implications. Many of the Sustainable Development Goals, including eradicating poverty and hunger, creating decent jobs for all, and ensuring access to affordable and clean energy, will become increasingly out of reach. Weak economic performance is also linked to insufficient investment in quality education, health services, social protection, programs for marginalized groups and mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
One of the main features of the month is the launch of the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2019, embargoed until 21 January. The report focuses on the importance of international cooperation and global trade.
Other content in this month’s SDG editorial package includes exclusive interviews with experts, economists and influencers; and impactful stories on the rights and dignity of migrants, people with disabilities and the LGBTI community – key targets to overcome inequality and discrimination everywhere.
World Economic Situation and Prospects Report
The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2019, embargoed until 21 January, shows that income inequality between countries has declined somewhat in recent decades, driven by the strong growth performance of East Asian and South Asian economies, which has outpaced growth in developed economies by a significant margin. But there are a significant number of countries where income levels have continued to fall further behind, particularly in parts of Africa, Western Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. The majority of the countries with weak or negative per capita growth in 2018 have been consistently falling behind for several decades.
Press Kit: Press Release and Fact Sheet
Interview opportunities with UN experts
Please contact Daniel Shepard (shepard@un.org) and Vesna Blazhevska (blazhevska@un.org)
- Elliott Harris, UN Chief Economist and Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development (English)
- Helena Afonso, Associate Economic Affairs Officer, EAPD/DESA (English, Portuguese) – Focus on Africa
- Dawn Holland, Chief, Global Economic Monitoring Branch, EAPD/DESA (English) – Focus on North America; Developed Asia
- Matthias Kempf, Economic Affairs Officer, EAPD/DESA (English, German) – Focus on Europe
- Ingo Pitterle, Economic Affairs Officer, EAPD/DESA (English, German) – Focus on Latin America and the Caribbean
- Grigor Agabekian, Economic Affairs Officer, EAPD/DESA (English, Russian) – Focus on Economies in Transition; Commonwealth of Independent States
- Sebastian Vergara, Economic Affairs Officer, EAPD/DESA (English, Spanish) – Focus on South Asia; India
- Poh Lynn Ng, Associate Economic Affairs Officer, EAPD/DESA (English) – Focus on East Asia; China
The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that 600 million new jobs are need by 2030 to keep pace with the growing global working age population. And some 780 million people who do have jobs, are not earning enough to lift their families out of poverty. There is much work to be done.
As ILO turns 100 this year, we look at how the organization has shaped international labour law, impacting people’s rights, from 8-hour work days to maternity protection to efforts to eradicate forced and child labour.
Join Taking the ILO to the People Campaign
Our Story, Your Story – The ILO Journey
More information on #ILO100 events will be available throughout the year. On 22 January in Geneva, Switzerland, the Global Commission on the Future of Work will release its report. Embargoed information on the report will be available on 17 January.
UN at World Economic Forum in Davos, 22-25 January
A recent estimate shows that the returns on investments generated by the full implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals could be around US$30 billion a year. Moreover, according to the UN Global Compact, nearly 200 of the Fortune 500 list of leading U.S. corporations captured a total of US$3.7 billion in savings thanks to their emissions reduction measures.
Investing in sustainable practices, products and service is good business. But how do we encourage more companies to align their business models with the strategic goals of the international community? Find out more about the UN System’s engagement at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos.
UN Officials at the Forum
Many UN leaders will attend events, focusing on an array of SDGs, from gender equality, climate finance to universal health care and food security, at the World Economic Forum. Contact Devi Palanivelu (palanivelu@un.org) for more information and interview opportunities.
UN Leaders’ Blogs
- Henrietta Fore, Executive Director, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Millions of young people need better job skills. Here’s how businesses can help. - Paul Polman, SDG Advocate
A business model for sustainability - Christine Lagarde & Jonathan D. Ostry, International Monetary Fund, (IMF)
When more women join the workforce, everyone benefits. Here’s why.
UN Foundation events at the World Economic Forum
The United Nations Foundation, will convene two high-level events on the sidelines of the Annual Meeting. Hosted in the Goal 17 Partnership Space on January 24, the UN Foundation will bring together current and future leaders to discuss:
- The Young and Restless: Remaking Multilateralism for Tomorrow’s Leaders – Featuring H.E. Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway and SDG Advocates Co-Chair and Dr. Alaa Murabit, UN High-level Commissioner on Health Employment and Economic Growth and SDG Advocate, this dynamic discussion will explore education as a human right and the global investments needed by governments, companies and communities to achieve the SDGs.
- Partnering around Disruption: How the World Can Work Together So Technology Works For All – Featuring UN Foundation Deputy CEO Elizabeth Cousens and the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation, this round table will discuss strengthening cooperation in the digital age to realizing the transformational potential of technologies, such as 5G and automation.
#SDGLive
In addition, in the format of #SDGLive, the UN Foundation will bring conversations from the World Economic Forum to a global digital audience focused on solving the world’s most complex challenges. Through on-camera interviews with leaders across sectors, #SDGLive will elevate key issues for the advancement of the SDGs. These videos will also be featured on un.org/sdgmediazone.
Contact: Chrysula Winegar, Senior Communications Director, UN Foundation
Equality remains the cornerstone of the Sustainable Development Agenda, ensuring the rights and dignity of everyone, no matter where they are from, what they look like, who they love or what their socio-economic status is. Our experts talk about their work to help overcome inequality.
Professor Muhammad Yunus,
Founder, Grameen Bank, and SDG Advocate
Lise Kingo,
CEO & Executive Director, UN Global Compact
Liniker,
UN Free & Equal Brazil Equality Champion, LGBTI activist
Jillian Mercado
Shattering Stereotypes
Model and disability activist Jillian Mercado talks about overcoming obstacles and raising awareness on challenges facing people with disabilities
Green Economy
Climate-Friendly Investment in Rwanda
Rwanda, which relies on rain-fed agriculture and hydropower, finds itself vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. David Toovey from the Rwanda Green Fund speaks about contributing to the country’s vision of becoming a low-carbon and climate resilient economy.
Kartik Sawhney
Leaving no one behind
Young Leader for the SDGs Kartik Sawhney calls for equal opportunity at work for people with disabilities and building an inclusive world for all.
Double challenge for the disabled
Africa Renewal
“The main challenge facing disabled persons in Africa is stigma. Instead of looking at your ability to do work, [employers] will look at your physical disability,” explains Mr. Jonathan Habaalu, in Zambia.
Migration for economic growth
Africa Renewal
“Migration has always been historically positive and plays a constructive role as a catalyst of economic growth,” says Ashraf El Nour, the Director of IOM in New York.
Podcast
A Way Home Together: Stories of the Human Journey | Migrant Rights and Your Rights
In December 2018, more than 150 countries gathered in Morocco to adopt the historic UN-led global migration compact, designed to make the growing phenomenon safer and more dignified. The International Organization for Migration’s podcast documents the stories of people on the move.
“Along the way I had lost my immigration status and had become undocumented: shrouded in fear and hidden in the shadows,” says Podcast host, Tolu Olubunmi. Listen to other episodes here.
NOTE: If you are interested in using the multimedia resources, please contact ar@un.org for the broadcast-quality version.
Jillian Mercado meets with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, intro by Nyle DiMarco
Interview with Khalil Daoud, 2018 UN Global Compact SDG Pioneer
Interview with Achim Steiner, Administrator of UNDP
More videos from Free & Equal: https://www.unfe.org/videos/
Background Information
Goal 8 - Decent work and economic growth
Goal 10 - Reduced inequalities
Migration infographics
24 January | International Day of Education
An estimated 265 million children and adolescents globally do not have the opportunity to enter or complete school. More than a fifth of them are of primary school age. On 24 January, the world will commemorate the first International Day of Education, calling for inclusive, equitable and quality education for all.
20 November | 30th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
On 20 November, the UN will mark 30 years since the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In every region of the world, from Brazil to Burkina Faso, Finland to Fiji, Madagascar to Mexico, the Convention has inspired changes in laws and practice that have improved the lives of millions of children. More information on the commemoration will be available later this year.
All monthly editorial packages will focus on a specific SDG that relates to the UN System’s priority that month. Check out our calendar for more information on what is expected for the rest of 2019.
Sustainability At Work
New year, new opportunities. Across the UN System, there are several tools to help organizations put in place a more sustainable and fairer corporate culture. The UN Global Compact, whose mission is to mobilize a global movement of sustainable companies to create the world we want, offers initiatives that range from efforts to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change. Here’s how your organization can join the global movement: https://www.unglobalcompact.org/participation/join
Goal of the Month – February edition
The next editorial package will highlight SDG 4 (Quality Education) ahead of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and International Mother Language Day, with a special focus on indigenous languages.