United Nations Day Celebrations- Barbados

The UN Office in the Eastern Caribbean

United Nations day 2019!

celebrated the

74th Anniversary of the United Nations with a week of activities!

• UN Staff Photo • #OneAction Media Zone and • SDG Spoken Word Challenge • UN Day Reception and SDG • Innovation Talk • UN Staff Day

www.uneasterncaribbean.org

UN Barbados and OECS

unbarbadosandoecs

UNBdosandOECS

Working as One for the Sustainable Development of the Eastern Caribbean!

The UN Day week of activities started with an all-staff photo on the steps of UN House in Barbados. Resident agencies: FAO, ITU, PAHO/WHO, UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women, UNOPS, WFP and the Resident Coordinator's Office to display the collective commitment of the UN in the Eastern Caribbean to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

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#OneAction Media Zone and SDG Spoken Word Challenge UN Day activities continued at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus on Wednesday, October 23.

Hosted in partnership with the Guild of Students and UWI TV, the media zone and SDG Spoken Word Challenge captured youth commitments to the #GlobalGoals and provided a platform for students to share their perspectives on the most pressing issues facing the region.

Through the media zone, students made commitments to take #OneAction to achieve the SDGs. From conserving water, reducing their carbon footprint, to advancing gender equality, students made a range of commitments that reflected their goal of interest. Commitments were captured through UWI TV and will be rebroadcasted across its channels as well as UN Barbados and OECS platforms.

The SDG Spoken Word Challenge featured 17 speakers from varying student associations on campus. Focusing on one of the 17 goals, students used spoken word to bring impactful messages on the Caribbean's progress towards Agenda 2030. Judges for this challenge included Marquita Juanne Sugrim from FAO, Tristan Ward from UNICEF and Jannis Kappelmann from WFP. Making the featured address was the Minister of Youth and Community Empowerment for Barbados, the Honourable Adrian Forde. Welcoming and opening remarks were made by Ms. Dale Lynch, Director of Student Services, and Mr. Didier Trebucq, UN Resident Coordinator respectively.

"I would first like to thank the United Nations for providing a platform for our youth to live the Barbadian dream!"

- The Honourable Adrian Forde, Minister of Youth and Community Empowerment, Barbados

Photo Highlights!

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Video Highlights!

UN Day Reception and SDG Innovation Talk On October 24, 2019, in commemoration of the 74th anniversary of the United Nations, the UN Barbados and OECS along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Barbados hosted a reception at UN House.

Speaking at the UN Day reception, the Resident Coordinator Didier Trebucq emphasized the importance and relevance of the UN values embodied in the Charter. Mr. Trebucq stated that the UN remains undoubtedly, the best example of multilateralism at work’ and that the current UN Reform process was being undertaken to better serve countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to foster a collective and coherent response and deepen accountability with governments and citizenry.

The Resident Coordinator recognized the work of the Agencies in delivering strong support to Barbados effecting change in Climate Resilience, Disaster Risk Management, Gender Equality, developing the Green and Blue Economies, Children’s Rights and Protection, Youth empowerment, Health and Food Security, among others. Mr. Trebucq also announced the two new programmes that will benefit Barbados; one under the recently created UN Joint SDG Fund, focusing on shock responsive and universal social protection and the second under the UN Human Security Trust Fund which will build resilience of the agriculture and fisheries sectors through women empowerment.

Before inviting the Prime Minister to give her remarks, Mr. Trebucq affirmed the UN’s continued unwavering support to the governments of Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, to Deliver as ONE on climate change and other national priorities and called on all stakeholders to strengthen cooperation to ensure the achievement of Agenda 2030. The Prime Minister of Barbados the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Q.C., M.P. delivered her first address at UN House and expressed her support for the UN and multilateralism, recognizing the importance of the principles that were held up after World War 2 to protect the weak and voiceless in society. She affirmed that these values were essential for the current century, where the world continues to engage in ‘strong man politics.’ PM Mottley emphasized the need for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) including those in the Caribbean ‘to be at the table’ asserting that too many of the region’s realities were being ignored, whether on economic or climate issues or matters relating to international relations.

Quoting the words of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, “Let us respect their rights, as we would wish them to respect ours,” the Prime Minister went on to thank the current Secretary General for being the champion of the rights of Small States, recognizing that countries like those in the Caribbean and the Alliance of Small Island States deserve to be treated differently because of their vulnerability.

In closing, PM Mottley thanked the UN Agencies for adding value to Barbados causing the country to do well in the Human Development Index and in other areas that matter to the people of Barbados, noting that the UN’s hands are critical to the country’s development.

Following the Prime Minister’s remarks, two SDG Innovation Talks were delivered by youth; Roshanna Trim, the President of the Barbados Youth Development Council and Jevanic Henry, a young environmentalist, youth leader and community activist on climate change issues. Both delivered inspiring talks on youth unemployment and climate change.

Photo Highlights!

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UN Staff Day The UN Day celebrations concluded with the much anticipated UN Staff Day which encouraged staff to work together to earn points for their agency. Leading up to this day, staff were able to add points to their agency score by participating in the SDG Treasure Hunt. The hunt took staff around UN House and PAHO/WHO to solve riddles that led to an SDG Cube. UNDP, FAO and PAHO/WHO were able to secure these early points for their team!

Taking place in the rear car park of UN House on Friday, October 25, staff gathered to take part in a series of activities that put their creativity and sportsmanship to the test.

With staff enthusiastic to earn points that would advance their agency to first place the day commenced with the judging of the SDG Outfit Competition . Marquita Juanne Sugrim from FAO won first place with her unique reflection of SDG 6- Clean Water and Sanitation.

This was followed by the inter-agency obstacle course contest which included teams from FAO, UNDP, PAHO/WHO and UNICEF/UNFPA. Three courses were set up by the Barbados Defence Force which tested both the psychical and brain power of staff. Special prizes for this segment included Best Chant which went to PAHO/WHO, Best Gear which went to UNDP and Best Cheer-leading which went to FAO. The staff cook-off featured entries from ITU, FAO and UNDP. The judges had much difficulty determining a winner, however, in the end, Estelle Page from FAO secured first place contributing the final points needed to lead FAO to overall victory.

Putting their team loyalties aside, staff were then able to enjoy lunch together and beat the heat through the Smiley Sno Cones self-serve sno cone machine!

Final Point Standings: 1st Place- FAO 2nd Place- UNDP

3rd Place- PAHO/WHO

4th Place- UNICEF/UNFPA

Photo Highlights!

View full album here