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01 Story

Webinar: Vaccines to Vaccinations: Gender in Promoting Immunisation

29 April 2022 (Fri) from 8:00-9:30 PM Malaysia Time

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02 Call for Applications - OHCHR capacity building training programme on human rights, media freedom, and the safety of women journalists.
02 Story

Call for Applications - OHCHR capacity building training programme on human rights, media freedom, and the safety of women journalists.

OHCHR Regional Office for South-East Asia is calling for women journalists from Malaysia to submit their applications for the training

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03 Working Local, Thinking Global Seminar: Engaging Evidence in Policy Making towards the SDGs
03 Story

Working Local, Thinking Global Seminar: Engaging Evidence in Policy Making towards the SDGs

19 May 2022 14:00 - 15:00

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01 Webinar: Vaccines to Vaccinations: Gender in Promoting Immunisation

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Story

29 April 2022

Working Local, Thinking Global Seminar: Engaging Evidence in Policy Making towards the SDGs

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Story

27 April 2022

Call for Applications - OHCHR capacity building training programme on human rights, media freedom, and the safety of women journalists.

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Story

26 April 2022

Webinar: Vaccines to Vaccinations: Gender in Promoting Immunisation

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Latest

Story

29 April 2022

Working Local, Thinking Global Seminar: Engaging Evidence in Policy Making towards the SDGs

Learn more
Story

27 April 2022

Call for Applications - OHCHR capacity building training programme on human rights, media freedom, and the safety of women journalists.

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Story

26 April 2022

Webinar: Vaccines to Vaccinations: Gender in Promoting Immunisation

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Featured Stories Press Releases
Take Action
10 February 2022
Climate Action
Science, Solutions, Solidarity: For a livable future
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Take Action
30 October 2020
Decade of Action
Deliver #ForPeopleForPlanet. We have 10 years to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals. The year 2020 kicks off a reaffirmation of the 2030 Agenda. Demonstrate action through ambition, mobilization and game-changing outcomes for people and for the planet.
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Take Action
09 February 2022
The Lazy Person’s Guide to Saving the World
Change starts with you. Seriously. Every human on earth—even the most indifferent, laziest person among us—is part of the solution. Fortunately, there are some super easy things we can adopt into our routines that, if we all do it, will make a big difference.
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Take Action
09 February 2022
Act Now
Towards a net-zero future: The UN Campaign for Individual Action ActNow is the United Nations campaign for individual action on climate change and sustainability.
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Story
29 April 2022
Working Local, Thinking Global Seminar: Engaging Evidence in Policy Making towards the SDGs
The United Nations University International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH), in partnership with the UN agencies in Malaysia, is proud to launch this year’s seminar series “Working Local, Thinking Global: Engaging Evidence in Policy Making towards the SDGs.” Now on its third year, the series provides a forum for intellectual discussion about the work of the UN towards the achievement of the SDGs and brings together various voices from academics, researchers, and civil societies across Malaysia to meet and engage with their relevant counterparts in the UN system. In this episode, ILO Representative joins UNU-IIGH to talk about ILO’s work in Malaysia towards advancing the SDGs. Catch the session live on May 19 (Thursday), 2 PM Malaysia Time via Zoom and UNU-IIGH social media. Register here: https://go.unu.edu/bDnL2 Catch the livestream: YouTube | Twitter | LinkedIn
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27 April 2022
Call for Applications - OHCHR capacity building training programme on human rights, media freedom, and the safety of women journalists.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for South-East Asia, as part of the OHCHR-UNESCO Global Drive for Media Freedom, Access to Information and the Safety of Journalists supported by the Netherlands, is calling for women journalists from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand to submit their applications for a capacity building training programme on human rights, media freedom, and the safety of women journalists. The training is designed to increase the knowledge and capacities of participants on human rights, threats and risks faced by women journalists and means to address these through available UN human rights mechanisms, digital security measures, as well as other forms of safety and security. The training will be conducted both on- and off-line and will be implemented from May-December 2022 through self-learning components, online discussions and in person sessions. Women journalists qualify to participate if they: Are a woman journalist from one of the four target countries. Preference will be given to journalists that are from/based in and/or working in or on one of the target countries. Cover issues/topics on human rights that may be considered sensitive in national contexts. Have limited knowledge of human rights and safety issues. While women who have received previous trainings will be considered, preference will be given to those that have had less exposure to similar trainings. Have at least 2 years of work experience. While young women are strongly encouraged to apply, participants are expected to have been active in the field of journalism. Particular attention will be given to ensure diversity among the participants of each country, based on geographical location, age, type of media outlet they work for and/or other pertinent considerations. If you are an interested candidate, you need to submit: A CV (in English or local language); Selection of content on relevant subjects, which could include written, video or audio stories (one or more); Motivation letter indicating why and how you would benefit from participating in the course; and A support letter from a relevant media outlet, civil society organization or UN agency/entity. Applications can be submitted through the following link: https://airtable.com/shrSnQBxlFSXX3Xgf. OHCHR website page on call for applications here Deadline for applications is 4 May 2022.
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26 April 2022
Webinar: Vaccines to Vaccinations: Gender in Promoting Immunisation
The United Nations University International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH), the Gender and Health Hub and The Lancet Commission on Gender and Global Health are excited to invite you to the Vaccines to Vaccinations: Gender in Promoting Immunisation webinar on 29 April 2022 (Fri) from 8:00-9:30 PM Malaysia Time.    In this session, we will review the cost of gender inequity in the COVID-19 response, focusing on vaccination. More than a year into COVID-19 vaccine deployment, less than 50 countries are regularly reporting gender-disaggregated data. In this panel, we will hear from vaccination experts who discuss issues ranging from policy to practice. We will focus on the issues related to data reporting and collection, why international agencies are not mandating gender-disaggregated data, and what strategies could be used to change that.  Join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion on gender disparities in COVID-19 vaccination coverage with Commissioner Nina Schwalbe and esteemed panelists, with session moderated by Pascale Allotey of UNU-IIGH. Dr Akosua Sika Ayisi, Deputy Director for Public Health, Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, Ghana Dr Phionah Atuhebwe, New Vaccines Introduction Medical Officer Africa, World Health Organization Ms Jamille Bigio, Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment; Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Gender Equality, and Director, Gender, Equality and Women’s Empowerment Hub, USAID Prof Mira Johri, Professor, Department of Health Management, University of Montreal, and Principal Scientist, University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) Webinar: "Vaccines to vaccinations: Gender in promoting immunisation" Date and Time: 29 April, Friday, 8-9:30 PM KL time Register here: Vaccines to Vaccinations: Gender in Promoting Immunisation - International Institute for Global Health (unu.edu) Or catch the Livestream on: YouTube | The Lancet Commission on Gender and Global Health Twitter | @genderhealthhub LinkedIn | United Nations University – IIGH For queries, please contact events-iigh@unu.edu.
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22 April 2022
Participate in #MyClimateAction
This Earth Day, the digital art platform Agora is launching a photo and video contest in support of the UN’s ActNow campaign, encouraging people around the world to showcase their climate action. The contest, #MyClimateAction, aims to counter paralysis and inaction amid the worsening climate crisis by shining a light on steps being taken by people everywhere, highlighting solutions and inspiring change. The competition is open to anyone, and submissions can be made directly on the dedicated webpage – please spread the word! Announcement: www.un.org/en/actnow/myclimateaction Photo/video submissions will be accepted on this dedicated webpage:
http://agoraawards.com/myclimateaction We need your action The time to save the planet is now People from all over the world are invited to showcase and share their individual actions to tackle climate change and preserve our planet by submitting a photo or a video with the hashtag #MyClimateAction.   Showcase and Inspire Power to the people. Power to the earth #MyClimateAction also wishes to inspire other people, organizations, leaders, and future generations to join the movement by following some of the examples shared in the photographs or videos, or by creating new ways to protect our planet. Participate in #MyClimateAction. It’s free The top 50 most inspiring photos and videos will be shown on the UN website and at COP27 in Egypt   It is time that we, the people, show how we can all work and fight together for a better future for our planet.
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Story
14 April 2022
The War in Ukraine: A Silent Assault on the Developing World”
For the people of Ukraine, the Russian invasion is a waking nightmare, and a humanitarian disaster on a terrifying scale. But the war is also fast becoming a matter of life and death for vulnerable people around the world. We have all seen the tragedy unfolding inside Ukraine: cities flattened; people suffering and dying in their homes and in the streets; the fastest displacement crisis in Europe since the Second World War. But beyond Ukraine’s borders, far beyond the media spotlight, the war has launched a silent assault on the developing world. This crisis could throw up to 1.7 billion people — over one-fifth of humanity — into poverty, destitution and hunger on a scale not seen in decades. Ukraine and the Russian Federation provide 30 per cent of the world’s wheat and barley, one-fifth of its maize, and over half of its sunflower oil. Together, their grain feeds the poorest and most vulnerable people, providing more than one-third of the wheat imported by 45 African and least-developed countries. At the same time, Russia is the world’s top natural gas exporter, and second-largest oil exporter. But the war is preventing farmers from tending their crops, while closing ports, ending grain exports, disrupting supply chains and sending prices skyrocketing.  Many developing countries are still struggling to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with historic debt burdens and soaring inflation. Since the start of 2022, wheat and maize prices have increased by 30 per cent. Brent oil prices have risen more than 60 per cent over the last year, while natural gas and fertilizer prices have more than doubled. The United Nations’ own lifesaving operations are under severe strain. The World Food Programme has warned that it faces the impossible choice of taking from the hungry to feed the starving. It urgently needs $8 billion to support its operations in Yemen, Chad and Niger. Some countries are already sliding from vulnerability to crisis and serious social unrest. And we know the roots of many conflicts lie in poverty, inequality, under-development and hopelessness.  But while much of the world has stepped up in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, there is no sign of the same support for the 1.7 billion other potential victims of this war. We have a clear moral duty to support them, everywhere. The Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance that I launched last month aims to develop coordinated solutions to these interlinked crises, with governments, international financial institutions and other key partners. I thank the global leaders in all sectors who are supporting this initiative.  On food, we are urging all countries to keep markets open, resist hoarding and unjustified and unnecessary export restrictions, and make reserves available to countries at the highest risk of hunger and famine. This is not the time for protectionism. There is enough food for every country to get through this crisis if we act together. Humanitarian appeals must be fully funded, including for the World Food Programme. We simply cannot allow people to starve in the twenty-first century.  On energy, the use of strategic stockpiles and additional reserves could help to ease this energy crisis in the short term. But the only medium- and long-term solution is to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy, which is not impacted by market fluctuations. This will allow the progressive phase-out of coal and all other fossil fuels. And on finance, the G20 and international financial institutions must go into emergency mode. They must find ways to increase liquidity and fiscal space, so that governments in developing countries can invest in the poorest and most vulnerable, and in the Sustainable Development Goals. This should be a first step towards deep reforms to our unfair global financial system, which makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. Social protection, including cash transfers, will be essential to support desperate families through this crisis. But many developing countries with large external debts do not have the liquidity to provide these safety nets. We cannot stand by and watch, as they are forced to choose between investing in their people, and servicing their debt. The only lasting solution to the war in Ukraine and its assault on the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world is peace. As the United Nations works to support the innocent victims of this war — both inside and outside Ukraine — we call on the global community to speak with one voice and support our plea for peace. This war must end, now.   
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Press Release
03 July 2021
New MIT study says United Nations Pause Campaign slows spread of life-threatening misinformation
A major part of that work is the UN’s Pause campaign, which encourages people to pause to check the validity of any information they share. Now, a new study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) says the Pause campaign can bring about the behavioural change needed to stop the spread of misinformation. The MIT study, conducted in the UK and the US, found that the simple act of pausing to question the origin, credibility, relevance and accuracy of any information before sharing it on phones, computers and social media platforms, significantly reduced people’s propensity to share misinformation. In the study, participants who saw Pause campaign content were notably less likely to share fake headlines.   “The monumental task of tackling misinformation belongs to all of us. It is about how we can come together to drive social change, shifting behavioural norms and tapping into people’s sense of solidarity to keep each other safe,” said Melissa Fleming, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications.  “The MIT study shows that pausing before sharing is not only possible but also the responsible thing to do, especially in an age where it has become hard to separate the truth from the lies.”   The Pause campaign, created in collaboration with Purpose, a social impact agency, is part of the wider Verified initiative launched by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in May 2020 to deliver trusted COVID-19-related medical and science information and advice, and stop the spread of misinformation. According to the World Health Organization, in the first three months of 2020 alone, nearly 6,000 people were hospitalized because of COVID-19 misinformation. The Pause campaign, which reached nearly 1 billion people in 2020, is redoubling its efforts to empower more people to share information responsibly. The new phase of the campaign asks the world to take the #PledgetoPause and flood the Internet with the pause symbol. Guided by research, the campaign is built on the premise that by interrupting, even for a few seconds, the impulse to share something we see -- an urge often fuelled by emotions such as excitement, anger, sadness, elation, and even altruism -- we allow ourselves time to think more critically. Better judgement prevails and fewer bogus claims are circulated. In the words of the UN Secretary-General: “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the wrong information can be deadly. Take the pledge to pause and help stop the spread of misinformation.”   ABOUT VERIFIED Verified is a United Nations initiative, in collaboration with Purpose, that aims to empower people around the world with science-based information during the Covid-19 response. Working with UN agencies, influencers, civil society, businesses, and social media platforms, Verified creates and distributes trusted, accurate information and encourages consumers to change their media consumption practices to reduce and stop the spread of misinformation online. Website: https://shareverified.com/en/ ABOUT PAUSE CAMPAIGN Launched as a part of the UN Verified initiative, the Pause Campaign draws on research from psychologists, neuroscientists and behavioural scientists whose studies indicate that pausing to reflect before sharing can significantly help to reduce the spread of unverified and misleading information. The overall campaign, which was launched a year ago, challenges people to break the habit of sharing shocking or emotive content impulsively and without questioning its accuracy. Website: https://pledgetopause.org CONTACTS UN Department of Global Communications Devi Palanivelu | palanivelu@un.org | +1 917 495 5424 Purpose Jennifer Minard | jennifer.minard@purpose.com  | +44 787 242 7706
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Press Release
15 June 2021
Strengthening Resilience and Ending Vulnerability in Small Island Developing States
  Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face a shared set of geographical, environmental, economic, and social challenges, and suffer from unique development needs and extreme vulnerability. Frequent exposures to natural hazards and disasters intensified by climate change and external economic shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are detrimental to these island nations. The Joint SDG Fund announces a call for proposals focusing on strengthening resilience and ending the vulnerabilities of SIDS to accelerate the SDGs. The overall funding envelope for this Call is US$30 million. All SIDS countries are eligible to receive funding, including countries previously funded in the Joint SDG Fund’s existing portfolios. Intended to be catalytic, funding will support targeting programmatic solutions of 2 years or less, with a budget of US$1 million per country.  Multi-Country Offices will be eligible for funding envelopes corresponding to the countries and populations they serve and be reviewed on case by case basis.  This Call for Proposals will support a new generation of transformative, Government-led, integrated initiatives that leverage the best expertise and resources possible to address complex problems and accelerate progress towards the SDGs. “We must work together to ensure that the [Decade of Action] delivers for Small Island Developing States. In addressing climate change, enhanced ambition and action are both a priority and a driver of the Decade . . . we need small island developing States leadership more than ever.”  - United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed Governments face challenges in accessing financing for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) implementation and funding modern and resilient social protection systems. Vulnerable groups have been proportionally hit harder by the recent economic crisis. Furthermore, the skills-gap and the impacts of COVID-19 has resulted in higher levels of youth unemployment. Sustainable growth will require economic diversification and higher participation from a skillful workforce. To prevent disasters, advance the economy and enable the public sector to deliver services to people and enterprises, access to modern innovative technologies, led by digitalization are critical. In line with the implementation of UN reform agenda, UN Joint Programmes supported by the Fund will demonstrate a new generation of collaboration for results, embedded in the UN Cooperation Frameworks and committed to enhanced national ownership, leadership, and capacities. The strength in partnerships builds resilience and reduces vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States to leave no one behind.
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Press Release
07 June 2021
Media Statement by UN in Malaysia
Throughout the pandemic, the UN in Malaysia has been strongly advocating for the inclusion of migrants, refugees and undocumented persons in the COVID-19 response and the National COVID-19 Immunization Programme. These vulnerable groups should also have meaningful access to information so that they are aware of the vaccination plans and where to access the services. The public health logic in a pandemic is that nobody is safe unless everybody is safe. Furthermore, in press conferences in February and April 2021, the Government has repeated that those without documents will not be detained during vaccination. The UN commends this inclusive approach to keep the entire population safe. The UN in Malaysia has also discussed with the Government that in order to encourage undocumented people to come forward for vaccination, guarantees from repercussions such as temporary exemption or moratorium from detention and deportation are important. A crackdown on migrants during this critical public health crisis could seriously undermine the public health objective and lead to adverse results. The UN continues to offer to collaborate with the Government and other stakeholders to help ensure all individuals, regardless of legal status, are included in vaccination plans without repercussions.
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Press Release
04 May 2021
Statement by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet
A free, uncensored and independent press is a cornerstone of democratic societies. It can bring life-saving information in moments of crises;  provide a basis for public participation; and help  ensure accountability and respect for human rights. World Press Freedom Day is an opportunity to celebrate this fundamental work. Especially today, as we mark the 30th anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, in which a group of African journalists set out key principles for press freedom. The COVID-19 crisis has made it clearer that critical reporting on government policies or public figures is all too often met with prosecution. Laws adopted or applied to restrict and criminalise disinformation during the pandemic have also been used by States to target journalists. Around the world, people have increasingly taken to the streets to demand their economic and social rights, as well as an end to discrimination and systemic racism, impunity, and corruption. Journalists fulfilling their fundamental role of reporting on these social protests have intolerably become targets. Many have been victims of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force by law enforcement, arbitrary arrests, and criminal prosecution. Attacks, arrests and the criminal prosecution of a journalist has an additional chilling effect of dissuading other journalists from critically reporting on relevant issues. In this way, they impoverish public debate and hamper our ability to respond effectively to societal challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The work of journalists and media workers will be crucial for the world to recover better from the devastation of this crisis. Objective, trusted, fact-checked news will counter disinformation; help ensure resilient and sustainable solutions to current challenges; demand transparency and accountability; foster trust in institutions. Contributing to humanity’s well-being, accurate information is a public good. The silencing of a journalist is a loss to society as a whole. In order to fully celebrate the bravery of journalists in their determination to keep the public informed, we must demand that their rights are respected, protected and fulfilled.
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Press Release
14 April 2021
World leaders to meet on strengthening financial measures to boost efforts to cope with COVID-19 fallout
New York, 29 March 2021—With many countries continuing to struggle to overcome the human and economic devastation from COVID-19, UN Secretary-General António Guterres is convening a meeting of world leaders on Monday, 29 March from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT to urge the international community to take additional and urgent action to ensure a robust recovery. The high-level virtual meeting organized by the Secretary-General together with the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and the Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness aims to underscore the urgency of the need for bolder and concrete action to provide liquidity and address debt vulnerability in developing countries. The meeting will follow-up on a series of meetings and roundtables held last year to mobilize action to assist the economic recovery from the pandemic that resulted in a series of measures by the international community, but still not sufficient to meet the continuing and deepening crisis that many countries face. “We are on the verge of a debt crisis. Six countries have already defaulted. One-third of emerging market economies are at high risk of fiscal crisis. And the situation is even worse for least-developed and low-income countries,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. “We need now, to allocate new special drawing rights and encourage countries with strong reserve positions to reallocate unused SDRs to countries that need it; extend the G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative into 2022; and expand it to include all highly indebted, vulnerable middle-income countries affected by the crisis. We also need to expand the Common Framework for Debt Treatment to other vulnerable countries and provide additional, targeted debt relief and to tackle long-standing weaknesses in the international debt architecture. Otherwise, we risk spiralling deeper into the worst recession since the Great Depression.” Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, said, “It has now been over a year since the COVID-19 global health crisis began and it has wreaked tremendous havoc on lives, livelihoods, and the global economy.” “The COVID-19-induced contraction in economic activity,” he said, “is severely impacting debt sustainability, particularly in low and middle-income countries. In addition to providing critical debt relief and liquidity support, we must create a new international debt architecture that ensures sustainability and encourages the private sector to integrate sustainability into its investment decisions to ensure a faster, stronger and more resilient recovery.” Prime Minister Holness added, “With the availability of vaccines, we are now able to see a path towards global recovery even as we note that all countries must have sufficient amounts and capacity to vaccinate their populations if we are to achieve inclusive recovery. Let us continue through robust cooperation and coordination to take deliberate actions to reverse the devastating economic effects of the pandemic as we prepare for a future of sustainable growth and development.” “The world must come together to protect people, save lives, and defeat COVID-19,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “Our progress has been remarkable, but we know we can’t defeat this virus and build back better at home unless all countries have the resources to respond to and recover from this global challenge. Only through a coordinated global response, can we address the impacts of the pandemic and create jobs, economic growth, and new opportunity for our people and businesses. New United Nations policy brief on debt crisis In a new policy brief issued today, “Preventing Debt Crises in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond: The Time to Act is Now,” the Secretary-General says that while many steps taken to date have been significant, they have not been sufficient to help restore economic health. Risks remain high for more countries to tip into a debt crisis, especially if the COVID-19 shock is more protracted and deeper than forecast. The COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in more than 2.7 million deaths and more than 125 million confirmed cases worldwide, has gone beyond a health and humanitarian crisis to also become an unprecedented global development emergency. More than a year into the pandemic, the Secretary-General says the fiscal impacts of the crisis are triggering debt distress in a growing number of countries and is severely limiting the ability of many countries to invest in recovery and the Sustainable Development Goals, including urgently needed climate action. He said, “Unless we take decisive action on debt and liquidity, we risk another ‘lost decade’ for many developing countries, putting the SDGs definitively out of reach.” COVID-19 highlights increasingly unequal world The current economic situation has highlighted growing inequalities between and within countries that pose significant threats to global efforts to build back better. COVID-19-related economic shocks have already led credit rating agencies to downgrade the credit worthiness of 42 countries since the start of the pandemic, including six developed countries, 27 emerging market economies, and nine least developed and low-income countries. Unprecedented health, social and economic measures over the last year have helped control the spread of the deadly virus, save lives and mitigate the socioeconomic impact of the pandemic. These emergency policies succeeded in flattening the curve of contagion and saved lives, but they also resulted the first increase in extreme poverty since 1998, a 4.3% drop in global GDP and the loss of an equivalent of 144 million jobs in 2020 alone. Many countries responded with extraordinary fiscal support measures, taking advantage of low borrowing costs, with developed countries accounting for the overwhelming share, around US$18 trillion. The international community has mobilized a strong response including emergency financing from international financial institutions, support for humanitarian partners, and access to medical countermeasures such as vaccines.  Many developing countries, and least developed countries, in particular, which suffered from high debt levels before the pandemic, seeing their fiscal and external financing position further deteriorate in the course of 2020, have not been able to provide much needed stimulus support in adequate measure. While some middle-income countries have returned to international bond markets since April 2020, only two countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have been able to access markets; and some countries, including least developed countries with very high refinancing needs in 2021, will not have access to financial markets at affordable rates. In addition, many of these countries have already seen access to foreign currency curtailed through non-resident capital flight, and contractions in trade, tourism, remittances and foreign direct investment. The rapid growth of financing needs and the collapse in revenues and GDP growth associated with the pandemic have exacerbated debt burden risks across the globe. More than half of the least developed and low-income countries that use the IMF World Bank Debt Sustainability Framework are now assessed at a high risk of debt distress or in debt distress and, according to some estimates, more than a third of emerging market economies are at high risk of fiscal crises. Need for debt relief Debt relief will be needed to create space for investments in recovery and for achieving the SDGs, including climate action. Even in cases of elevated debt, new borrowing can lead to improved creditworthiness if it finances productive investments. Debt relief can also free up resources, create conditions under which countries can return to voluntary market access, and may lower a country’s overall borrowing costs, with positive impacts across the whole economy. Call for action on liquidity, fresh financing and ODA The Secretary-General, in the new UN policy brief, calls on governments to provide fresh concessional financing for developing countries, especially LDCs and SIDS, recapitalize multilateral development banks and accelerate the timetable for replenishing the funds, meet ODA commitments and provide long-term financing to developing countries for investment in long-term growth and development. In support of recent endorsements from the G7, the brief also calls for a new general allocation of special drawing rights (SDRs) reiterating the need to combine a voluntary reallocation of SDRs from developed to developing countries.    And the brief calls on G20 to extend the World Bank’s Debt Suspension Initiative (DSSI) until the end of June 2022 and include middle-income countries, notably small island developing states that have been gravely affected by the crisis. The policy brief also calls on the G20 to extend the eligibility to debt relief under the Common Framework for Debt Treatment Beyond the DSSI to other vulnerable countries on a case-by-case basis; and consider other mechanisms that would allow countries to access the Common Framework without creating a stigma or compromising the credit rating of the beneficiaries, including funds and other instruments within existing institutions.  Finally, the brief calls on countries and the international financial institutions to seize the moment to address long-standing weaknesses in the international debt architecture.   Participants at the High-level meeting   Moderated by BBC news anchor Laura Trevelyan, the meeting of Heads of State and Government will feature opening remarks by the UN Secretary-General and Prime Ministers Trudeau and Holness. It will also feature Heads of State and Government and include participation by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, World Bank Group President David Malpass, OECD Secretary-General Ángel Gurría and WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. [END] About the High-level meeting The high-level meeting will be webcast at: http://webtv.un.org/ The full list of speakers will be posted on the High-Level Event website, which can be found at: https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/financing-development. An embargoed copy of the Secretary-General’s Policy Brief can be found here. Media contacts United Nations: Dan Shepard, UN Department of Global Communications, email: shepard@un.org, tel: +1 646 675 3286 Canada: Office of the Prime Minister, PMO Media Relations, email: media@pmo-cpm.gc.ca Jamaica: Kimberley McLeod and Naomi Francis, Office of the Prime Minister of Jamaica, email: Kimberley.mcleod@opm.gov.jm and naomi.francis@opm.gov.jm  
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Find out what the UN in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam is doing towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
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