OPPORTUNITIES: United Nations Internet Governance Forum, Baku, Azerbaijan, November 2012

The United Nations Internet Governance Forum is hosting their annual conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 6-9, 2012.

The series of plenary sessions and workshops will focus on Internet safety, use of social media for social change, digital citizenship, etc. The UNIGF is looking for youth ages 18-22 to join the conversations, which will include social media practitioners and digital experts from around the globe, government representatives, reps from the world's largest Internet companies, digital activists, and others.

It would be great to get strong regional representation from youth - interested 18-22 y/o's should contact Elizabeth Metraux (Project Harmony International) directly - elizabeth.metraux@ph-int.org.

NEWS: UN urges protection of children against marketing of unhealthy food

21 January 2011 – The United Nations health agency today called for action to reduce the exposure of children to the marketing of food with high contents of fat, sugar or salt, which exposed them to the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCD) caused by poor diet during their lives.

Television advertising is responsible for a large share of the marketing of unhealthy foods and, according to available evidence, advertisements influence children’s food preferences, purchase requests and consumption patterns, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

In May last year, WHO member States endorsed a new set of recommendations on the marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages to children. The recommendations call for national and international action to reduce the exposure of children to marketing messages that promote foods high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars, or salt, and to reduce the use of powerful techniques to market them to children.

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NEWS / EVENTS: Child rights and the media (PAKISTAN)

PESHAWAR: Speakers at a workshop on child rights said Thursday the media could play an important role in raising awareness about children’s rights. The capacity-building workshop on child rights was organised by the Children’s Complaint Office, Peshawar.

“Pakistan is among the countries that signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, but violation of the rights continues and only the mass media can play a positive role in bringing about a change,” said one of the speakers.

Another participant said Article 17 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognised the important function performed by the mass media and stressed upon the states to encourage the mass media to disseminate information and material that is of social and cultural benefit for children.

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EVENTS: Student film festival to be hosted in Qatar

High school students in Doha, Qatar with an interest in filmmaking can send submissions on sustainable development, human rights or the environment to a film festival.

The festival, with the stated aim of "creating a platform for student film-making talent and artistic vision," will be hosted by Qatar Model United Nations in collaboration with Northwestern University in Qatar in March 2011.

Every submission is required to include a completed entry form and a poster to promote the film. Prizes will be awarded for cinematography, editing, picture, story and sound. The Best Picture winner will receive QR10,000 while other winners will receive prizes and trophies.

For more information, click here.

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ARTICLE / GENDER ISSUES / CHILDREN'S TV: Geena Davis takes childrens fight to UN

Geena Davis has taken her campaign for empowerment of women in children’s media to the United Nations.

The Oscar-winner says she became concerned about the “disturbing” stereotyping and hyper-sexualisation of female characters after watching cartoons with her then 2-year-old.

'I was stunned to notice what seemed to be a very significant gender disparity in these entertainments that were made for young children,' CNN reports Davis saying at a UN meeting on gender equality. 'And it occurred to me that this wasn't a healthy message that we were sending to kids.

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VIDEO/ CALL FOR ENTRIES: UN invites ‘Citizen Ambassadors’ to film anti-poverty goals in action

23 June 2010 – The United Nations launched today a video contest inviting people from around the world, particularly youth, to tell leaders what the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) mean to them by uploading short films on the UN YouTube channel.

"Use your voice as a global citizen to tell world leaders in a short video what you think needs to be done to make this world a better and safer place," the contest website reads, featuring messages from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassadors Angelique Kidjo and Youssou N'Dour.

Additional videos featuring UN Messengers of Peace Stevie Wonder and Princess Haya of Jordan, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors Lionel Messi and Jackie Chan, and UN Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador Maria Sharapova, will be posted throughout the contest.

Starting today and until 23 August, people will be able to upload short videos answering questions such as "What is your community, city or country doing to achieve the Millennium Development Goals?" or "How can the international community better work together to achieve the Millennium Development Goals?"

The six winners will be announced during the high-level MDG summit in New York hosted by the Secretary-General on 23 September, and will meet with him on UN Day 2010 on 24 October.

more info

EVENTS: International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding

International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding (12 August 2010 – 11 August 2011) On 18 December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming the year commencing on 12 August 2010 as the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding. The Year will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the first International Youth Year in 1985 on the theme Participation, Development and Peace. The resolution adopted by the General Assembly invites Member States, the UN system and civil society to take advantage of the International Year to promote actions aimed at disseminating among youth the ideals of peace, freedom, progress, solidarity and dedication to the objectives and goals of progress and development, including the Millennium Development Goals. The International Year can generate much needed attention for youth participation and youth development and can provide an impetus to partnerships among youth organizations around the world. The United Nations Focal Point on Youth, and the entire United Nations Programme on Youth hopes that you will join us in celebrating the Year. In the limited time that we have before the year commences, we encourage you to organize activities that promote an increased understanding of the importance and benefits of youth participation in all aspects of society, as well as those that support youth to devote their energy, enthusiasm and creativity to development and the promotion of mutual understanding. Please send your ideas and activities for the International Year to youth@un.org

OPPORTUNITIES: 10-week fellowship to bring young journalists to the UN

10-week fellowship to bring young journalists to the UN

Young journalists from developing nations in Africa, Asia, South America or the Caribbean can apply for the Dag Hammarskjöld Scholarship Fund, a fellowship that grants them a 10-week reporting stint in New York. Deadline: March 22.

From mid-September to late November, selected journalists will be able to see the United Nations at work and report on its proceedings for news media in their home countries.

Applicants must be full-time, professional journalists between 25 and 35 years old, be employed by a recognized print, radio, television, or Internet media organization, and have a good working knowledge of English.

The fellowship will provide round-trip airfare to New York, accommodation, health insurance for the duration of the fellowship, and a daily allowance.

For more information about the fund, click here or e-mail info@unjournalismfellowship.org.

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