Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 19 June 2022

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

MESSAGE ON MICRO-, SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES DAY

27 June 2022

Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises represent around 90 per cent of global businesses, more than 60 percent of employment and half of GDP worldwide. They are the economic lifeblood of communities around the world.

But they have also been disproportionately impacted by a host of challenges that are disrupting economies -- from climate catastrophe to COVID-19 to the global fallout from the war in Ukraine.

The theme of this year’s Day, “Resilience and Rebuilding”, highlights the vital role of micro-, small and medium sized enterprises for a fair and sustainable recovery.

Strengthening small businesses helps fight poverty, create jobs and safeguard livelihoods, particularly for the working poor, women and youth.  We must all do more to support these enterprises in building resilience to external shocks and pursuing sustainable business models.

On this International Day of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises, let us renew our commitment to leverage their full potential, rescue the Sustainable Development Goals and build a more prosperous and just world for all.

UNWOMEN

PRESS RELEASE

UN Women Pakistan and the Centre for International Peace and Stability (CIPS) at National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) signed an MOU

UN Women Pakistan and the Centre for International Peace and Stability (CIPS) at National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) signed an MOU to collaborate on advancing gender-responsive peacekeeping operations. The signing ceremony took place at CIPS in Islamabad on June 24, 2022. It was signed between Ms. Sharmeela Rassool, Country Representative UN Women Pakistan and Major General (retd.) Muhammad Salim Raza, HI (M), Principal NIPCONS, NUST.

The MOU aims at strengthening organizational collaboration on issues relating to Gender Equality and Diversity through reciprocated partnership and training mechanisms for peacekeepers.

Pakistan is the largest and longest troop-contributing countries for UN peacekeeping forces around the globe, having deployed 200,000 forces since 1960. Pakistan also became the first country to achieve the goal of deployment of 15% female staff officers as nearly 450 women have served in UN missions. “UNSCR 1325 is the cornerstone of our peacekeeping operations. We recognize the differential role played by women in making communities more peaceful and resilient,” said Brig ® Mirza Saleem Beig, HOD UN Peacekeeping Training.

UN Women leads the mandate on implementing UNSCR 1325 relating to Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPS) that aims to ensure women’s priorities are central to peacebuilding at all levels. To achieve this goal, it addresses social, cultural and political barriers and protection risks that limit women’s full participation in achieving and sustaining peace. In the peacekeeping sphere, women involvement ensures greater access to marginalized communities, helps in promoting human rights and the protection of civilians, and encourages women to become a meaningful part of peace and political processes.

“UN peacekeepers from Pakistan embody the spirit and values of Pakistani society as peace ambassadors. This MOU is a first step in strengthening integration of gender perspective in the training curriculum and further increasing women’s participation at all levels of peace processes,” said UN Women Country Representative Ms. Sharmeela Rassool.

For more information:

Contact: Anam Abbas, Communications Officer, UN Women Pakistan

Email: anam.abbas@unwomen.org  phone: 03098552200