United Nations in Pakistan

Pakistan affirmed its commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by adopting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as its own national development agenda through a unanimous National Assembly Resolution in 2016. Since then, the country has made considerable progress by mainstreaming these goals in national policies and strategies and developing an institutional framework for SDGs implementation in Pakistan. SDG support units have been established at federal and provincial levels with the planning institutions (Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives and Provincial Planning and Development Departments) to guide SDGs implementation and monitoring it progress. In 2018, the Government designed and approved a National SDGs Framework that envisages a national vision to prioritize and localize SDGs. Localized provincial SDG Frameworks are being formulated. The focus of the government is on mainstreaming SDGs in planning processes, ensuring strong monitoring and reporting on SDGs, ensuring public financial allocations are aligned to SDGs and alternate financing modalities are being explored, and to benefit from use of technology to accelerate progress towards SDGs.

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Publication

02 September 2022

2022 Pakistan Floods Response Plan - FRP

Pakistan has been enduring severe monsoon weather since June 2022, which saw areaweighted rainfall 67 per cent above normal levels in that month alone. As of 27 August, rainfall in the country is equivalent to 2.9 times the national 30-year average. This has caused widespread flooding and landslides, with severe repercussions for human lives, property and infrastructure. To date, 72 districts across Pakistan have been declared ‘calamity hit’ by the
Government of Pakistan. These numbers remain dynamic given the ongoing rains, and the number of calamity-declared districts is expected to increase.

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18 June 2020

Pakistan: Further desert locust damage forecast in coming agricultural seasons

The Government of Pakistan’s preliminary estimate of monetary losses due to desert locusts over the two coming agricultural seasons in 2020 and 2021 may range from US$3.4 billion to $10.21 billion. Locust damage has significantly affected many farmers already, with further significant locust damage forecast at the end of summer. In late January, the Government of Pakistan declared the desert locust a national emergency and set up the National Action Plan for Desert Locust Control and Surveillance and a high-level National Locust Control Centre. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is providing technical advice and procurement support to the Government for locust surveillance and control activities, including locust threat forecasts and control operation strategies. FAO and the World Food Programme and partners, in coordination with the Government, will access needs in the worst-impacted districts, which have also experienced multiple shocks over the past 18 months, including drought, flash flooding, a cold wave and COVID-19. The Government of Pakistan needs $372 million over the coming three years in additional funding to survey, control and recover from the locust damage. FAO launched the Desert Locust Upsurge Global Response Plan 2020, which includes $12.5 million for Pakistan for crisis response, of which only $1.9 million has been funded. More than 3 million people in Pakistan are facing severe acute food insecurity, with the situation particularly precarious in Balochistan. It is estimated that approximately 34,000 households will need of emergency livelihood and food-security assistance due to crop losses. Many more people may be indirectly affected by crop losses leading to price rises in key commodities.

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16 June 2020

A Coordinated Response to Coronavirus

On Wednesday, 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) characterized the coronavirus (COVID-19) viral disease a pandemic, but it is a pandemic that can be controlled. Coronavirus (COVID-19) is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who heads the UN agency, said, in his statement, “Let me be clear: describing this as a pandemic does not mean that countries should give up.” The UN Secretary-General urged all countries to take a comprehensive approach tailored to their circumstances – with containment as the central pillar. COVID-19 is affecting thousands of people, impacting countries’ health systems and having widespread social and economic effects. The UN entities working on development, the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, are supporting countries in their preparedness and response plans. This page convenes sources of information and guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) regarding the current outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). WHO is working closely with global experts, governments and partners to track the spread and to provide guidance to countries and individuals on measures to protect health and prevent the spread of this outbreak. To stay up to date with the latest information, please visit: United Nations Covid-19 Response: https://www.un.org/coronavirus World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 Latest news on the United Nations’ response: https://news.un.org/en/events/un-news-coverage-coronavirus-outbreak WHO guidance for countries: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical Coronavirus (COVID-19) Situation: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/685d0ace521648f8a5beeeee1b9125cd

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14 September 2022

Everyday Heroes – Stories from the Flood

Acres and acres of land is inundated by the floods in Pakistan, with one-third of Sindh (area and population) affected by the devastating floods. More than 1400 lives have been lost and 33 million are directly impacted. Many have lost their homes and everything they owned. Livestock and fields of crops have been wiped out. They have no food, no drinking water, no shelter. They are at increased risk of waterborne diseases, dengue and malnutrition. They have no access to health or education facilities. Life as they knew it has been snatched from them. In the words of the United Nations Secretary-General, “It’s not about numbers. It’s about people, about the farmers that have lost their crops, about those that have lost members of their family, about those that have seen their houses destroyed, about those that have lost their cattle, about those that have no money to pay the loans that they have contracted to be able to plant. It was these people that each one of you was rescuing, helping to escape these horrible floods.” “I come here to serve my people; this is my passion.” – Dr Sumeira Abasi Dr. Sumeira Abasi, a field medical officer in Larkana, Sindh, had been coming to the Taluka Headquarter hospital since the flooding began, and being a mother of three, she lamented that the situation was challenging for her. Even though her home was far and she had to travel through the flood waters that entered inside the rickshaw she travelled in, her spirits were not dampened. There was a time when her own home was flooded, but she did not stop and continued to meet the health care needs of the flood victims within the limited means available to her. As she put it: “I come here to serve my people; this is my passion.” “I rescued about three hundred people” - Mr. Muhammad Shifa Arijo When the ruthless floods hit Larkana, Muhammad Shifa Arijo, Secretary of Union Council Anwar Adab, Larkana, fearlessly and selflessly rushed to help people. He had risked his own life rescuing some 300 people from slums that had been in the path of the raging floodwaters, and subsequently helping to move them to Quaid-e-Awam Engineering University using boats. He had also been given the responsibility of delivering food each day to hundreds of people affected by the floods. Dr. Abasi and Arijo and many others like them, speak of the enormous courage, generosity and solidarity that people have shown during this time of extreme crisis. The mammoth floods were relentless in their destruction, yet these brave men and women went above and beyond and provided timely help, saving hundreds of lives. They need the help of everyone across the world. The world needs to respond with assistance for these innocent people suffering the consequences of a climate change induced catastrophe that they hardly contributed to.

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07 September 2022

UN Women puts women and girls at the heart of flood response in Pakistan

When the recent floods hit Fatimah Gul’s house, everything happened so quickly that she was unable to bring any belongings or food supplies. The elderly widow lost most of her belongings when her village was one of the very first to be hit by floods in Swabi District of the northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Photo: UN Women/Aziz Ullah “This sudden flood has destroyed everything in my life,” said Fatimah with tears in her eyes. “I don’t have utensils and clothes. My bed and house are damaged.” She was already living on zakat (charity money) and suddenly left with nothing. She cannot afford to rebuild nor has she any income to survive. Fatimah is one of many women affected by the record floods in Pakistan. Most victims of natural disasters are the poor, and particularly women. The recent climate-changed floods in Pakistan have shown that the country is no exception. Heavy monsoon rains since June have left up to one third of the country under water, affecting 33 million of the country’s estimated 240 million inhabitants. Some 6.4 million people are estimated to need of assistance. Disasters such as this are worse for women, girls, and women with disabilities. They face the biggest challenges including access to humanitarian assistance. Furthermore, the needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls are often distinct during disasters. UN Women Pakistan is putting women like Fatimah at the heart of its flood response. So far, UN Women has distributed non-food items for immediate relief, including shelter, kitchen utensils, medical aid, and sanitary products for flood-affected women in Swabi. In addition, providing cash grants worth PKR 20,000 (USD 91) each to the most vulnerable women including young girls, women headed the house, women without income and women with disabilities Another woman from the same village as Fatimah, Romania Bibi, says she feels exposed to danger and her privacy can no longer be maintained. Half of her house was damaged during the floods. “I cannot sleep at night because flood damaged the boundary walls of my house. I am using bed sheets to cover the broken walls,” said Romania. In the coming days, UN Women plans to scale up its flood response to provide life-saving relief in Sindh and Balochistan provinces and the Gilgit-Baltistan region. The scaling services include temporary women’s centres, and services for the prevention of and response to gender-based violence (GBV), with a focus on psychosocial support to GBV survivors. Photo: UN Women/Aziz Ullah Story: UN Women

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کیپشن: موسلادھارمون سون بارشوں کے بعد شمالی پاکستان میں فاطمہ گل کا گھر۔فوٹو: یواین ویمن/عزیزاللہ

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08 November 2021

Pakistan celebrates the 76th UN Day with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UN Agencies in a ‎colorful ceremony ‎

The 76th anniversary of the United Nations was recently celebrated in a colorful event organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Islamabad. The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Sohail Mahmood, was the Chief Guest while a video message of the UN Secretary General, Mr. António Guterres, was featured at the event. The Resident Coordinator, Mr. Julien Harneis, also addressed the audience comprising of heads of diplomatic missions and UN agencies based in Islamabad, as well as senior government officials and members of the UN staff. Speaking on the occasion, the Foreign Secretary reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism, with the UN playing a central role for promoting peace, security, development and human rights for all. The Foreign Secretary highlighted Pakistan’s contributions to the work of the UN including in the areas of peacekeeping, refugee protection, humanitarian action, climate change, and international cooperation for sustainable development. He also thanked all the UN agencies working in Pakistan for advancing its socio-economic development. The UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Julien Harneis, appreciated the constant support and assistance of the Government of Pakistan and highlighted the many accomplishments of the UN agencies working in Pakistan in a diversity of sectors. He also talked about the new 5-year plan, the UN Sustainable Development Framework 2023-2027 and how every effort was being made to ensure that it had realistic action plans that align with the needs of the people of Pakistan, the directions of the government and the support of the member states and development partners. A youth representative also shared her views on the expectations from the United Nations for meeting contemporary challenges. Many UN agencies set up displays around the venue to showcase their products and interventions in the areas of health, food security, environmental protection, capacity-building and socio-economic development. These exhibits invited a great deal of interest from the guests and served as an opportunity to showcase the many interventions and accomplishments of the UN in Pakistan. Photo Credit: UNDP

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30 May 2021

Pakistan ramps up Protected Areas

From the Himalayas in the north to the deserts of Balochistan in the west, to the mangroves of Sindh in the south, Pakistan’snatural diversity is spellbinding, but it is also under threat. In 2018, only 12 per cent of the country was classed as an environmentally protected area. According to Bloomberg, it was one of the six countries in the world most at risk from climate change. The country had one of the lowest forest covers in the region, with only 5 per cent cover. This was compared to a global average of 31 per cent. This put the country at increased risk from environmental dangers such as flooding, melting glaciers and droughts. However, change is underway. In 2020, Pakistan’s government launched the ‘Protected Area Initiative’ which aims to increase protected areas such as national parks, wetlands and wildlife reserves to 15 per cent of the country’s total area by 2023. In the last two years, protected area coverage has already increased to 13.9 per cent and further progress looks assured. Pakistan is following a global trend, according to the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) flagship report Protected Planet. Since 2010, 21 million km2of protected and conserved areas, or 42 per cent of the global total, has been added. “Protected areas offer a range of environmental benefits – they safeguard biodiversity by protecting plant and animal habitats; protect against climate change by building resilience to natural disasters and providing carbon storage, and can help maintain food and water security,” said Susan Gardner, Director of UNEP’s Ecosystems division. “Their positive impact also extends to economies as protected areas can drive eco-tourism and create green jobs in developing countries.” Sustainable Protected Areas While the growth of protected areas is a welcome development, as the Pakistan government is aware, in order for them to be effective, the areas must be managed and controlled. While globally the target of 17 per cent of land protection has been met (Pakistan is behind the global average), less than 8 per cent, against a target of 10 per cent, of coastal and marine areas have been conserved. Pakistan’s national parks date back to 1972 with the creation of Lal Suhanra, one of South Asia’s largest. Lal Suhanara is now one of Pakistan’s 31 parks which include desert, mountains, wetlands and coastal ecosystems. They are home to a wide array of species including the elusive and endangered snow leopard. However, many had fallen into disrepair and were parks and protected areas only in name. Part of the Protected Area Initiative is to ensure that these valuable environmental areas are operating and functional. “It is key for Pakistan to not only increase the protected areas but to ensure that all areas that are protected are more than just paper parks. By this we mean they are fully functioning with community buy-in and staff to operate and protect them,” said Dr. Raja Omer, the Deputy Inspector General (Forests) in Pakistan. In order to do this Pakistan is adding 7000 jobs to manage and work in the parks, a key boost after job losses due to COVID-19. UNEP’s Protected Planet Report 2020 finds that in order to be fully effective, jobs in protected areas must draw from and benefit the local communities and fully embrace women at all levels of planning and implementation. “These jobs will ensure community buy-in and agency for the protected areas,” said Dr. Omer. As Pakistan prepares to hold World Environment Day on June 5, in partnership with UNEP, the country continues to make positive progress. Last year Prime Minister Khan announced the creation of nine new National Parks and the rehabilitation of a further six. Pakistan aims to have at least seven of its national parks registered under the IUCN 'Green List of Protected Areas,' the gold standard for conservation. “We have made good progress and we are confident we will meet our targets,” said Dr. Omer. Story via UNEP

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19 May 2021

Pakistan restores mangroves for economy and ecosystem benefits

Tahir Qureshi had many nicknames. Father of the Mangroves. Mangrove Man. The mangrove hero of Pakistan. All reflect a life dedicated to the conservation and restoration of Pakistan’s mangroves. As Pakistan prepares to host World Environment Day on June 5, ecosystem restoration, which includes critical ecosystems like mangrove forests, will be the focus. Mr Quershi, who sadly passed away in December 2020, played a key role in the development of mangrove restoration in Pakistan and will be fondly remembered at the event. “He was a magnificent man. He understood the importance of mangroves in environmental conservation, he dedicated his life to them” said Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, the country representative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) partner, “He literally planted millions of mangroves.” Mangroves are also a central part of the Pakistan government’s ambitious ‘Ten Billion Tree Tsunami’ drive. Led by Prime Minister Imran Khan and supported by UNEP, Pakistan has committed to planting 10 billion trees by 2023. Millions, if not billions, of these trees will be mangroves. By the end of June, this year one billion trees will have already been planted. Ecosystem and economic benefits Mangroves are one of the most productive and diverse ecosystems on the planet, without which, 39 per cent more people would be flooded annually. The IUCN estimates that mangroves provide exceptional carbon storage - three to five times that of tropical forests – and support livelihoods for over 120 million people globally. They are also home to more than 3,000 fish species are found in their ecosystem. “Mangroves are an important tool in the fight against climate change. They reduce carbon in the atmosphere and they also make financial sense. Restoring mangroves is five times more cost effective than building ‘grey infrastructure’ such as flood walls, which also don’t help with climate change,” said Makkio Yashiro, regional ecosystems coordinator for UNEP. But mangroves are under threat. Climate change, logging, agriculture, aquaculture, pollution and coastal development are all eroding their habitats. UNEP and partners found that over 67% of mangroves have been lost or degraded to date. Restoring a critical ecosystem Restoring mangroves helps support not only nature but also, economies. A hectare of mangroves is estimated to be worth between $33,000 and $57,000 per year. UNEP studies find that every dollar invested in mangrove restoration there is a benefit of four dollars. Simply put they are one of the most efficient, cost effective Nature-based Solutions (NbS). In Pakistan, as well as the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami, organisations such as the IUCN have instigated a number of mangrove restoration projects. The IUCN has worked on projects including one with the Pakistani Navy to plant seven million mangrove plants and also public-private enterprises with Engro Elengy Terminal Private Limited (EETPL) in the Port Qasim area of Karachi. As we enter the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, which will run from 2021 to 2030 and aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide, mangroves have a key role to play in its success. Story via UNEP

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Press Release

29 November 2022

Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 28 November 2022

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY 2 December 2022 As we commemorate the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, we need to recognize that the legacy of the transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans reverberates to this day, scarring our societies and impeding equitable development. We must also identify and eradicate contemporary forms of slavery, such as trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, child labour, forced marriage and the use of children in armed conflict. The latest Global Estimates of Modern Slavery on forced labour and forced marriage reveal that, in 2021, some 50 million persons were thus enslaved, and this number has been growing. The most marginalized groups remain particularly vulnerable, including ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, migrants, children and persons with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations. The majority of these vulnerable persons are women. On this International Day, I call on Governments and societies to recommit to eradicating slavery. Increased action needs to be taken with full participation of all stakeholders, including the private sector, trade unions, civil society and human rights institutions. I also urge all countries to protect and uphold the rights of victims and survivors of slavery. *** UNICEF PRESS RELEASE HIV prevention and treatment progress for children, adolescents, and pregnant women nearly flat over past few years – UNICEF Unprecedented stagnation comes on top of an existing and growing gap in treatment between children and adults. NEW YORK, 28 November 2022 – Around 110,000 children and adolescents (0-19 years) died from AIDs-related causes during 2021, according to the latest UNICEF global snapshot on children and HIV and AIDS. Meanwhile, another 310,000 were newly infected, bringing the total number of young people living with HIV to 2.7 million. Ahead of World AIDS Day, UNICEF warns that progress in HIV prevention and treatment for children, adolescents, and pregnant women has nearly flatlined over the past three years, with many regions still not at pre-COVID-19 service coverage. This comes on top of an existing and growing gap in treatment between children and adults. “Though children have long lagged behind adults in the AIDS response, the stagnation seen in the last three years is unprecedented, putting too many young lives at risk of sickness and death,” said UNICEF Associate Chief of HIV/AIDS Anurita Bains. “Children are falling through the cracks because we are collectively failing to find and test them and get them on life-saving treatment. Every day that goes by without progress, over 300 children and adolescents lose their fight against AIDS.” Despite accounting for only 7 per cent of overall people living with HIV, children and adolescents comprised 17 per cent of all AIDS-related deaths, and 21 per cent of new HIV infections in 2021. Unless the drivers of inequities are addressed, UNICEF warns, ending AIDS in children and adolescents will continue to be a distant dream. However, the snapshot points out that longer-term trends remain positive. New HIV infections among younger children (0-14 years) dropped by 52 per cent from 2010 to 2021, and new infections among adolescents (15-19 years) also dropped by 40 per cent. Similarly, coverage of lifelong antiretroviral treatment (ART) among pregnant women living with HIV increased from 46 per cent to 81 per cent in a single decade. While the total number of children living with HIV is on the decline, the treatment gap between children and adults continues to grow. In UNICEF HIV-priority countries, ART coverage for children stood at 56 per cent in 2020 but fell to 54 per cent in 2021. This decline is due to several factors including the COVID-19 pandemic and other global crises, which have increased marginalisation and poverty, but is also a reflection of waning political will and a flagging AIDS response in children. Globally, an even lower percentage of children living with HIV had access to treatment (52%), which has only marginally increased over the past few years. Meanwhile, coverage among all adults living with HIV (76%) was more than 20 percentage points higher than among children. The gap was even larger between children and pregnant women living with HIV (81%). Alarmingly, the percentage of children between the ages of 0-4 years living with HIV and not on ART has been rising over the past seven years, climbing to 72 per cent in 2021, as high as it was in 2012. Many regions – Asia and the Pacific, the Caribbean, Eastern and Southern Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, and West and Central Africa – also experienced drops in treatment coverage in pregnant and breastfeeding women during 2020, with Asia and the Pacific and the Middle East and North Africa seeing further declines in 2021. Except for West and Central Africa, which continues to see the highest burden of mother-to-child transmission, none of the aforementioned regions have recovered to the coverage levels achieved in 2019. These disruptions put the lives of newborn babies at increased risk. In 2021, more than 75,000 new child infections occurred because pregnant women were not diagnosed and initiated on treatment. “With renewed political commitment to reaching the most vulnerable, strategic partnership and resources to scale up programmes, we can end AIDS in children, adolescents and pregnant women,” said Bains. Notes to editors: Access the report and data here. Download multimedia content here. About UNICEF UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work, visit: www.unicef.org Follow UNICEF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube For more information, please contact: Sara Alhattab, UNICEF New York, Tel: +1 917 957 6536, salhattab@unicef.org

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Press Release

28 November 2022

Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 25 November 2022

UNFPA PRESS RELEASE Time to vow to end VAW (violence against women) Islamabad, November 25, 2022: Violence against women is one of the most prevalent human rights violation across the globe. It is a life-threatening health and protection issue. 32 per cent of women have experienced violence in Pakistan. Half of these women never sought help or told anyone about the violence they had experienced. Statistics are not believed to paint a full picture of pain and loss, the stories of survivors do. Gender-based violence takes many insidious forms in the real world to online platforms including physical, sexual, psychological and digital violence. Any form of violence affects survivors’ physical and mental health, may cause anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts or behaviors, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Survivors may lose their sense of individuality, dignity, or self-worth. One of the most prevalent forms of violence these days is digital violence or virtual abuse of women and girls. Digital violence includes online sexual harassment, cyberbullying and non-consensual use of images and video. Globally, 85 percent of women reported witnessing digital violence, and nearly 40% have experienced it personally. Hate and devaluation of women online cause long-term psychological, emotional and physical distress. According to global statistics, nine out of ten women (92%) report that online violence harms their sense of well-being and over a third (35%) have experienced mental health issues due to online violence. Digital violence impacts professional and economic livelihoods of women and girls who depend on online and social media spaces. Women and girls have the right to feel safe in all spaces, wherever they are. On the day International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 16 Days of Activism against Violence against Women have been initiated. It is time for everyone to reflect on how to end gender-based violence. UNFPA is working hard with other partners on the campaign by raising awareness, mobilizing advocacy and inspiring action to end gender-based violence, child marriage and other harmful practices. UNFPA works hard to end gender-based violence by 2030 through empowering women and girls with information about their bodies and rights; and engaging men and boys to change the attitudes with information on why gender-based violence is harmful. UNFPA also supports the system to help survivors of GBV access medical care, legal services, and psychosocial support and advocates for strong legal protections for survivors of violence. For more information Mariyam Nawaz, Communications Analyst, UNFPA Pakistan | mnawaz@unfpa.org Pilirani Semu-Banda, Communications Specialist | semu-banda@unfpa.org خواتین پر تشددکا خاتمہ وقت کی ضرورت ہے، یو این ایف پی اے 25نومبر2022: خواتین پر تشدد دنیا بھر میں کی جانے والی انسانی حقوق کی سنگین ترین خلاف ورزیوں میں سے ایک ہے۔ تشدد سےمتاثرہ خواتین کی زندگیوں اور صحت و سلامتی کو خطرات لاحق ہوجاتے ہیں۔ پاکستان میں 32 فیصد خواتین کو تشدد کا سامنا رہاہے ۔ ان میں سے نصف خواتین نے کبھی مدد نہیں مانگی اور نہ ہی کسی کو اپنے اوپر ہونے والے تشدد کے بارے میں آگاہ کیا ۔ اعداد و شمار خواتین پر گزرنے والی تکالیف اور نقصان کا احاطہ نہیں کرسکتے البتہ متاثرہ خواتین کی کہانیاں اس کی عکاسی کرتی ہیں۔ صنف کی بنیاد پر تشددحقیقی دنیا سے لے کر ڈیجیٹل پلیٹ فارمز تک، جسمانی، جنسی، نفسیاتی اور آن لائن تشدد سمیت مختلف خوفناک شکلوں میں ظاہر ہوتا ہے۔ ہر قسم کا تشدد متاثرہ خواتین کی جسمانی اور ذہنی صحت کو متاثر کرتا ہے، اور ان میں اضطراب ، افسردگی ، خودکش خیالات یا طرز عمل ، اور پوسٹ ٹرامیٹک اسٹریس ڈس آرڈر (پی ٹی ایس ڈی) کا سبب بن سکتا ہے۔ اس کے علاوہ تشد د سے متاثرہ خواتین اپنی انفرادیت ، وقار ، یا عزت ِ نفس کا احساس کھو سکتی ہیں۔ موجودہ دور میں تشدد کی سب سے عام قسم ’ڈیجیٹل تشدد‘ یا خواتین اور لڑکیوں کا آن لائن دنیا میں ہونے والا استحصال ہے۔ ڈیجیٹل تشدد میں آن لائن جنسی ہراسانی ، ڈرانا دھمکانا اور دوسروں کی تصاویر اور ویڈیو کا اُن کی رضامندی کے بغیر منفی استعمال شامل ہے۔ عالمی سطح پر 85 فیصد خواتین نے ڈیجیٹل تشدد کا مشاہدہ کرنے کی اطلاع دی ہے، اور تقریبا 40 فیصد کو ذاتی طور پر اس کا تجربہ ہوا ہے۔ آن لائن پلیٹ فارمز پر خواتین سے نفرت انگیز اور توہین آمیز سلوک ان میں طویل مدتی نفسیاتی ، جذباتی اور جسمانی پریشانی اور اضطراب کا سبب بنتا ہے۔ عالمی اعداد و شمار کے مطابق دس میں سے نو عورتوں (92٪) کا کہنا تھا کہ آن لائن تشدد ان کی صحت و سلامتی کے احساس کو نقصان پہنچاتا ہے اور ایک تہائی سے زائد (35٪) عورتوں کو آن لائن تشدد کی وجہ سے ذہنی صحت کے مسائل کا سامنا رہا ۔ ڈیجیٹل تشدد پیشہ ورانہ امور اور روزگار کے لیے آن لائن اور سوشل میڈیا پلیٹ فارمز پر انحصار کرنے والی خواتین اور لڑکیوں کے کام پر بھی منفی اثر ڈالتا ہے۔ خواتین اور لڑکیاں چاہے جہاں کہیں بھی ہوں، تمام جگہوں پر تحفظ کا احساس ان کا حق ہے۔ خواتین پر تشدد کے خاتمے کے عالمی دن کے موقع پر صنفی بنیادوں پر تشدد کے خلاف ایک 16 روزہ مہم کا آغاز کردیا گیا ہے۔ اب وقت آگیا ہے کہ ہر کوئی اس بات پر غور کرے کہ صنفی بنیادوں پر ہونے والے تشدد کو کیسے ختم کیا جاسکتا ہے۔ اس مہم کے ذریعے یو این ایف پی اے دیگر شراکت داروں کے ساتھ مل کر صنفی بنیاد پر تشدد، کم عمری کی شادیوں اور دیگر نقصان دہ رویوں کے خاتمے کے لیے آگاہی کے فروغ، حمایت کے حصول اوردیگر عملی اقدامات کے ذریعے کوششیں کررہا ہے۔ یو این ایف پی اے 2030 تک صنفی بنیاد پر تشدد کے خاتمے کے لیے پرعزم ہے جس کے لیے ادارے کی جانب سے خواتین اور لڑکیوں کو ان کی صحت اور حقوق کے بارے میں معلومات فراہم کی جا رہی ہیں؛ اور صنفی تشدد کے نقصانات کو اجاگر کرتے ہوئے مردوں اور لڑکوں کے رویوں کو تبدیل کرنے لیے ان کے ساتھ مل کر کام کیا جارہاہے۔ اس کے علاوہ یو این ایف پی اےصنفی بنیادوں پر تشدد سے متاثرہ خواتین کو طبی نگہداشت ، قانونی تحفظ اور نفسیاتی مدد کی فراہمی میں معاونت اور ساتھ ہی تشدد سے متاثرہ خواتین کو مضبوط قانونی تحفظ مہیا کرنے کی حمایت کررہا ہے ۔ مزید معلومات کے لئے رابطہ کیجیے: مریم نواز، کمیونیکیشن تجزیہ کار، یو این ایف پی اے پاکستان، mnawaz@unfpa.org پیلیرانی سیموبندا، کمیونیکیشن اسپیشلسٹ semu-banda@unfpa.org

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Press Release

25 November 2022

Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 24 November 2022

MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE 29 November 2022 We commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People at a time of diminished hope for peace. I am deeply saddened by the growing number of Palestinian civilians who have lost their lives in the spiral of violence engulfing the occupied West Bank. Each casualty fuels fear and yet more violence. I urge all parties to take immediate steps to reduce tensions and break this deadly cycle. The long-standing drivers of conflict – including the ongoing occupation, settlement expansion, home demolitions and evictions – heighten anger, despair, and hopelessness. Meanwhile, Gaza continues to endure debilitating closures and humanitarian crises. I reiterate my call on the parties to engage to end the closures of Gaza and improve living conditions of all Palestinians. UNRWA remains a vital lifeline for Palestine refugees. I commend the donors for their support and urge all to step up and provide predictable and sufficient funding to enable UNRWA to fully deliver on its mandate. The United Nations’ position is clear: peace must advance – the occupation must end. We are steadfast in our commitment to realize the vision of two States – Israel and Palestine – living side by side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States. Together, let us reaffirm our support to the Palestinian people in their quest to achieve their inalienable rights and build a future of peace, justice, security, and dignity for all. *** WFP PRESS RELEASE WFP and its partners embark on the New Strategic Plan to address Pakistan’s food security and nutrition needs Islamabad, 23 November 2022: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Pakistan launched its new Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027, which marks WFP’s progressive shift from its traditional role as a provider of food assistance to a provider of support for inclusive and equitable national policy and capacity development. Mr. Chris Kaye, Country Director of WFP Pakistan, presented the new CSP at the Executive Board Meeting in Rome, Italy, and said, “Building on the broad consultations with stakeholders and benefitting from the evaluation of the current CSP, WFP formulated the new CSP by putting the partnership with the government at the center of its interventions.” He added; “The work of WFP in Pakistan over the next five years will encompass livelihoods, social protection, food systems, and humanitarian response”. The strategic plan comes at a critical time when the country is reeling from the devastating impacts of the floods, disrupting the lives and livelihoods of millions. Mr. Kaye further said that the current needs and response to the flood emergency in Pakistan underpin the need for investment in strengthening the country’s resilience to climate change, supporting access to nutritious food, and reinforcing food systems. The four strategic outcomes of the CSP underscore WFP’s increasing focus on enabling and supporting national and provincial institutions to address the country’s food security and nutrition needs. Also, the outcomes will promote equal access to resources, prepare for and respond to emergencies, and build resilience to confront the challenges posed by climate change and other shocks. The Federal Minister of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety of Pakistan, Ms. Shazia Atta Marri, recognized the longstanding partnership of WFP with the Government of Pakistan in her remarks at the Executive Board meeting and said, “WFP’s CSP provides a vision which is aligned with the priorities of the Government, both at the federal and provincial levels.” She highlighted the mutual trust and accountability between the two partners, with specific reference to implementation of the large-scale stunting prevention programme, the ‘Benazir Nashonuma Programme’. The programme is one of the most innovative and comprehensive efforts of any Government to tackle stunting in South-East Asia. “We recognize the competence and professionalism of WFP to help implement a technical programme that will have a lasting impact not only on the future of women and children, but also on the communities and the country as a whole,” Minister Marri added. The new CSP was approved by WFP’s Executive Board in Rome and will come into effect from January 1, 2023. About WFP WFP is the world's leading humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries. Follow us on Twitter @WFPPakistan For more information please contact: Communications Officer, WFP Pakistan: Anam Abbas, +92 3115821307, anam.abbas@wfp.org

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Press Release

23 November 2022

Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 23 November 2022

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN 25 November 2022 Violence against women and girls is the most pervasive human rights violation in the world. Every 11 minutes, a woman or girl is killed by an intimate partner or family member — and we know that other stresses, from the COVID-19 pandemic to economic turmoil, inevitably lead to even more physical and verbal abuse. Women and girls also face rampant online violence, from misogynistic hate speech, to sexual harassment, image abuse and grooming by predators. This discrimination, violence and abuse targeting half of humanity comes at a steep cost. It limits women’s and girls’ participation in all walks of life, denies their basic rights and freedoms, and blocks the equal economic recovery and sustainable growth our world needs. Now is the time for transformative action that ends violence against women and girls. This means governments designing, funding and implementing national action plans to tackle this scourge. It means involving grassroots and civil society groups at every stage of decision-making. It means ensuring that laws are implemented and respected, so survivors see their rights to justice and support upheld. It means supporting public campaigns that challenge patriarchal norms and promote different forms of masculinities that reject misogyny and violence. And as this year’s theme — “UNITE: Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls” — reminds us, it means standing with activists around the world who are calling for change and supporting survivors of violence. I call on governments to increase funding by 50 per cent to women’s rights organizations and movements by 2026. Let’s take a stand and raise our voices in support of women’s rights. Let’s proudly declare: We are all feminists. Let’s consign violence against women and girls to the history books. ***

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Press Release

21 November 2022

Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 18 November 2022

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE ON AFRICA INDUSTRIALIZATION DAY 20 November 2022 Countries across Africa are facing a perfect storm: armed conflicts, rising food and energy insecurity, skyrocketing inflation and debt, shrinking fiscal space, and mounting climate catastrophes. Yet despite these challenges, Africa includes some of the world’s fastest growing economies with the potential to lead in the global energy transition. Strengthened public-private partnerships and multilateral cooperation are needed to advance inclusive, resilient, and sustainable industrial development in Africa. A new financial architecture with greater access to finance and lower cost of capital is key unlocking investments at scale. We must work collectively to boost entrepreneurship, harness the potential of new technologies, expand opportunities for youth, women and girls, build climate resilience, and foster competitiveness and trade. We must also work together to realize the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. On Africa Industrialization Day, let us join forces to build a more sustainable, peaceful, and prosperous continent for all. *** THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE ON THE WORLD TOILET DAY 19 November 2022 Improving sanitation is a highly cost-effective way to transform people’s lives. The benefits of better sanitation go far beyond public health. Safe toilets and sanitation improve nutrition, help to manage scarce water resources, and promote school attendance and work opportunities, particularly for women and girls. Every dollar invested in toilets and sanitation is repaid five-fold in lower health costs and increased productivity, education, and jobs. Yet we are seriously off track to keep our promise of safe toilets for all by 2030 – a crucial indicator in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Investment in sanitation systems is too low and progress remains too slow.  3.6 billion people still suffer the indignity of living without a safe toilet. Every day, over 700 children die from diseases caused by poor sanitation, hygiene, and unsafe water. On this World Toilet Day, we focus on the impact of inadequate sanitation systems on groundwater – how they spread human waste into rivers, lakes, and soil, polluting the water resources under our feet. This issue has been neglected for too long because it happens out of sight – underground, and amidst the poorest communities. Today, let us shine a light on the vital role of safe toilets in all aspects of sustainable development – both visible and invisible. And let us act with urgency and ambition to deliver on the basic human right to water and sanitation for all people, everywhere. *** UNDP PRESS RELEASE UNDP and Islamic Relief partner to support the flood-affected communities in Sindh Islamabad, 18 November 2022—In a signing ceremony today, UNDP and Islamic Relief announced a partnership to support the flood-affected communities in Sindh. The partnership will create income opportunities for households affected by the floods and support the construction of community infrastructures. The devastating floods in Pakistan have affected 33 million people. Recently launched Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) highlights that millions have become homeless, livelihoods are heavily impacted, and critical infrastructure has been wiped out. Estimates of total damages and losses are around $30 billion. Floods have particularly impacted the poorest and most vulnerable districts. Poverty rates for many flood-affected districts in Sindh and Balochistan, two of the most impacted provinces, were even higher. Before the floods, households in calamity-hit communities showed an average poverty rate of more than 31 percent, well above the national average of 21.9 percent. In response, UNDP and Islamic Relief will help communities with cash for work opportunities. An initial target of 10,000 cash-for-work hours will be set, with an increased focus on the inclusion of women. Simultaneously, rehabilitation schemes will also be identified in the selected districts that can be started immediately. While speaking at the signing ceremony, UNDP Pakistan Resident Representative Knut Ostby highlights, “Aligned with UNDP’s Flood Recovery Vision, through this partnership, we aim to revive livelihoods and rehabilitate critical infrastructure in impacted districts of Sindh.” “The scale of devastation has been unprecedented for which no one was prepared. Islamic Relief strongly believes that collaborations and partnerships are vital in this hour of need to reach the most in need before another crisis emerges. Our strong community connections are helping us to reach the most in need,” states Mr. Asif Sherazi, Country Director of Islamic Relief Pakistan. This collaboration is an extension of UNDP and Islamic Relief's global and regional partnership in reaching and building resilience in conflict-affected areas. For additional information, please contact: UNDP: Tabindah Anwar, tabindah.anwar@undp.org, +92 (51) 835 5650 Islamic Relief: Mansoor Ali, mansoor.ali@irp.org.pk, +92 300 8522942

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