Mandela Day, 18 July

#time2serve

Nelson Mandela International Day was launched in recognition of Nelson Mandela’s birthday on 18 July via unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly. It is more than a celebration of #Madiba’s life and legacy. It is a global movement to honour his life’s work and act to change the world for the better.

Nelson Mandela Day

Nelson Mandela Quote

Young Environmental Journalist Award Africa

In 2013, UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) will be launching the 3rd edition of the Young Environmental Journalist Award (YEJA).This is a contest for African journalists from 21 to 35 years and aims to recognise accurate, innovative and inspiring reporting on the environment. 

United Nations Environment Programme

The award is sponsored by the US State Department, and the winner receives a two- to three-week study tour in the US as part of his/her prize. Entries are limited to young African journalists who are based in Africa and working for local, regional or international media organisations. Freelance journalists are also welcome to apply. Print, online, radio and television journalists from any African country may apply. 

Open call for entries begin in February 2013. To learn more, go to www.unep.org/yeja. For more detailed information, please email yeja.africa@unep.org.

World Refugee Day

Refugees have no choice. You do.

For years, many countries and regions have been holding their own Refugee Days and even Weeks. One of the most widespread is Africa Refugee Day, which is celebrated on 20 June in several countries.

The UN General Assembly, on 4 December 2000, adopted resolution 55/76 where it noted that 2001 marked the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and that the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) had agreed to have International Refugee Day coincide with Africa Refugee Day on 20 June.

The General Assembly therefore decided that 20 June would be celebrated as World Refugee Day.

This year the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, will start marking World Refugee Day by rolling out a striking new campaign, "Dilemmas," which is a development of the award-winning "1" campaign launched last year. "Dilemmas" depicts some of the tough choices facing refugees, helping the public to empathise with, and understand, their dilemma.

www.un.org

First UNWTO Report on LGBT Travellers Highlights Economic Benefits for Tolerant Destinations

A benchmark affiliate report has been published by the United Nations World Tourism Association (UNWTO) in partnership with the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association. The Global Report on LGBT Tourism was released in January 2012 and found that destinations offering a tolerant culture were reaping the benefits of increased travel to - and spend by - gay travellers.

The report cautioned against making assumptions about this market, as sexuality is not necessarily an indicator of socio-economic status or leisure choices. Although difficult to accurately measure the impact of gay tourism, sources in the USA attribute 5% of tourism spend to the LGBT market. In Cape Town, this is thought to be 10-15% of all tourists.

Progressive attitudes in countries such as South Africa, Argentina, India, Spain, Mexico and South Korea have attracted the LGBT market in droves. The wedding market for this sector is a big driver and the LGBT sector appears to have bucked the recession trend bringing higher than average spend to their holiday destinations. In addition, the advent of same-sex marriage laws have meant that many gay couples are now travelling with children and spending in the family market.

Generally savvy in digital media, LGBT travel is influenced by social media and digital or actual word of mouth. Cape Town is a favourite with gay travellers for its matchless beauty, diverse lifestyle, colourful people and large local gay population. South African events such as Gay Pride, The Pink Loeries Mardi Gras, the Out in Africa Film Festival, MCQP and Mr Gay South Africa are further reasons for LGBT travellers to choose SA as their destination. The UK’s Guardian recognised Cape Town as ‘One of the Ten Most Popular Gay Destinations in the World.’

Destination marketing associations who were successfully attracting the LGBT market were working proactively at gay-targeted expos and fairs but were also aligned with equal rights organisations that promoted tolerance. Says the International LGBT Travel Association, “reaching out to LGBT travellers in an informed, authentic manner is essential”. In particular, LGBT travellers were sensitive to destinations who were only interested in their money.

In 2011, a total of 76 countries in the world still made homosexuality illegal and of these, five still find it to be punishable by death. The UNWTO points out that the struggle for gay rights is a human rights struggle.

Global Report on LGBT Tourism

UN's First Official Report on Gays Notes Widespread Bias

The first same-sex marriages took place in the Netherlands on April 1, 2001. The Netherlands has been followed by Belgium (2003), Spain and Canada (2005), South Africa (2006), Norway and Sweden (2009) and Portugal, Iceland, Argentina, Mexico City and several Mexican states (2010). Several states in the US have also recognised same-sex marriages. 

In South Africa, a national task team on "homophobic and transphobic" hate crimes has been established following consultations with the LGTB community, according to the report. 

UN's First Official Report on Gays Notes Widespread Bias - IPS ipsnews.net

The first UN report on LGBT rights highlights discrimination based on sexuality or gender identity. 
Above, people rally to support equal LGBT rights. 
Credit: Fibonacci Blue/ CC by 2.0

UN issues first report on human rights of gay and lesbian people

Violence against LGBT persons tends to be especially vicious compared to other bias-motivated crimes

An activist waves a rainbow flag, an international symbol for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people

In 76 countries it remains illegal to engage in same-sex conduct and in at least five countries - Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen - the death penalty prevails.

UN issues first report on human rights of gay and lesbian people