SDL Newsletter August-September 2012

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Social Development Link Newsletter (SDLN) August-September 2012

Social Development Link is an Online Newsletter published by the Civil Society and Outreach Unit of the Division for Social Policy and Development. It aims at providing a sharp and synthetic summary of major activities carried out by DSPD.

As its title shows, the newsletter will serve as a link between DSPD and its major partners, from civil society actors to social development practitioners and scholars. This is an electronic publication - no printed edition is generated.

In this Issue

Feature Articles

Ahead of International Youth Day, Ban warns of risk of creating a ‘lost generation’

International Youth Day 2012

Indigenous media, empowering indigenous voices

DESA’s new Under-Secretary-General assumes office

We need to eradicate poverty at a faster pace

Experts answer online questions on empowerment

Latest Publications

Calendar of Events

Ahead of International Youth Day, Ban warns of risk of creating a ‘lost generation’

Ahead of the International Youth Day, and amidst an economic crisis which has affected young people the most, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for greater and more meaningful inclusion of youth into decision-making processes around the world, while also warning of a possible “lost generation” if urgent measures are not put in place.

International Youth Day 2012

“We need a top-to-bottom review so our programmes and policies are working with and for young people. We don’t have a moment to lose. We have the world to gain,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon earlier this year. Many activities are currently underway to involve young people, including six live Google+ Hangouts in the lead up to International Youth Day on 12 August.

Indigenous media, empowering indigenous voices

On 9 August, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples will shine a spotlight on indigenous media – television, radio, film, and social media – and their role in helping to preserve indigenous peoples’ cultures, challenge stereotypes, and influence the social and political agenda.

DESA’s new Under-Secretary-General assumes office

Mr. Wu Hongbo assumed the office of Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs on 1 August 2012, following his appointment to this position by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 31 May. “I am honoured for the opportunity to serve the United Nations and I look forward to working closely with DESA colleagues in the coming years,” Mr. Wu said in a message to DESA staff on his first day in the office.

We need to eradicate poverty at a faster pace

Only a week into her new role, DESA’s Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, Ms. Shamshad Akhtar, met with DESA News. “With fast changing global events, magnified by recurring crises, the UN has a unique role to play in nurturing stronger multilateral framework, based on cooperation, innovative solutions and solidarity to safeguard our planet,” she said.

Experts answer online questions on empowerment

On the second day of the expert group meeting on empowerment taking place in New York on 10-12 September, it was time for the experts to answer questions from DESA’s online community. “The questions were sound, they were provocative, they reflected concerns,” said John Mathiason of Cornell University, commending the engagement and participation on Facebook and Twitter.