UNDERSTANDING THE UN To give delegates a better understanding of the United Nations, an inaugural three-day exhibition was staged by the United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development at the 8th USLS. The exhibition showcased the work of 11 United Nations agencies. UNDP The United Nations Development Programme operates in around 170 countries and territories. The agency strives to eradicate poverty, and reduce inequality and exclusion. It is experimenting with new ways to involve youths. UNDP has collaborated with Humanitarian Affairs since USLS’ inception in 2010.
UNAIDS Created in 1996, UNAIDS hopes to guide, strengthen and support global efforts to end the HIV epidemic. Its goals include caring for the infected, making communities less vulnerable, and preventing the spread of HIV. The #Live2LUV social media campaign hopes to reduce stigma against HIV, provide information, and encourage people to get tested. One of the campaign’s advocates is Ms Pia Wurtzbach, who was crowned Ms Universe 2015. She was present at the UNAIDS booth. Humanitarian Affairs has supported UNAIDS by holding a public awareness campaign and contributing 50,000 condoms to the African region.
UNFPA The United Nations Population Fund works towards a world where women and young people can lead healthy and productive lives. Since its inception in 1969, the number of women dying from a complicated pregnancy or childbirth has been halved. There is a long road ahead. Its #Youth4Peace campaign empowers youths to promote global peace and security. By banding together as one, they are asked to be active champions of positive and constructive change.
UN-Women Championing gender equality and the empowerment of women, the agency works to create an environment where every woman can live to her fullest potential. It believes that gender equality is a basic human right, with enormous socio-economic effects. Much progress has been made. Boys and girls have equal access to education in two-thirds of developing countries.
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