UN International Year 2022
Every year, the United Nations chooses several topics that will become a focus area for one year. In 2022, these topics are glass and artisanal fishery. The spotlight on glass is meant to highlight how a traditional product can be a part of sustainable development.
The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2022 as:
- International Year of Glass– On May 18, 2021, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the UN resolution 75/279 declaring 2022 the International Year of Glass to “shine a light on the role of glass in our societies” and show how technologies like glass can contribute to sustainable development.
- International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture– By declaring 2022 a special year for fishing, fish farming, and aquaculture, the UN wants to show the importance of sustainably using the oceans for the future. To highlight this topic, the United Nations adopted the resolution A/RES/72/72 on December 5, 2017.
Artisanal means “made by hand” and is used to describe goods made by skilled workers as opposed to mass-produced products. Artisanal fishery is a word for small fisheries—for example, a family that makes a living from catching and selling fish. It can also mean small and medium businesses that catch or farm fish, or grow fish and seafood in aquacultures. The UN defines artisanal fishery like this: “Traditional fisheries involving fishing households, using relatively small amount of capital and energy, relatively small fishing vessels (if any), making short fishing trips, close to shore, mainly for local consumption.”
UN International Year 2021
The United Nations General Assembly had declared 2021 as:
International Year of Peace and Trust– IYPT 2021 was proclaimed in resolution A/RES/73/338 adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on September 12, 2019, to reaffirm “the Charter of the United Nations and its purposes and principles, and especially the commitment to settle disputes through peaceful means and the determination to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war
International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development– The UN General Assembly declared 2021 the “International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development” by adopting UN Resolution A/RES/74/198 on 19 December 2019. The goal is to promote cultural and creative industries around the globe—helping developing countries to create more productive and decent jobs. The growing economy will then enable countries to eradicate poverty and create a better life for their citizens.
Artists and designers, entrepreneurs and knowledge workers, are all part of the creative economy. Their creativity is a renewable, sustainable resource, fueling one of the fastest growing sectors in the world.
The creative economy generates 2.25 billion USD every year—that is 3% of the world’s GDP—and provides more jobs to young people (ages 18-25) than any other sector.
International Year of Fruits and Vegetables– IYFV 2021 was proclaimed in a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 19, 2019, and is part of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016-2025) and the UN decade of Family Farming (UNDFF 2019-2028). Together, these observances bring a spotlight to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
International Year for the Elimination of Child Labor– About 168 million children worldwide are engaged in child labor, according to estimates published by UNICEF.The International Year for the Elimination of Child Labor is a United Nations initiative designed to highlight the importance of eradicating this issue. As stated in resolution A/RES/73/327, the UN invites member states, organizations, and citizens to mark the year with “activities aimed at raising awareness of the importance of the eradication of child labor, and to share best practices in this regard.” The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines child labor as “work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential, and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.”
The ILO’s definition of child labor includes all work that is dangerous and harmful to children, or that prevents them from attending school. In its worst form, child labor can involve “children being enslaved, separated from their families, exposed to serious hazards and illnesses, and/or left to fend for themselves on the streets of large cities.”
The initiative is aimed to further the goals of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda detailing 17 global goals for sustainable development. One of these goals is the fight against poverty worldwide, which is one of the principal drivers of child labor.
UN Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals
This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom. We recognise that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. All countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, will implement this plan. The Goals and targets of the agenda will stimulate action over the next fifteen years in areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet.
“We, the Heads of State and Government and High Representatives, meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 25-27 September 2015 as the Organization celebrates its seventieth anniversary, have decided today on new global Sustainable Development Goals. On behalf of the peoples we serve, we have adopted a historic decision on a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Goals and targets. We commit ourselves to working tirelessly for the full implementation of this Agenda by 2030. We recognize that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. We are committed to achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental – in a balanced and integrated manner. We will also build upon the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals and seek to address their unfinished business.”
Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
- Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
- Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
- Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
- Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
- Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
- Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
- Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
- Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
- Goal 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
- Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
- Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
- Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts*
- Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
- Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
- Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
- Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
International Year of Millets
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
India is among the largest global producers of millets with Rajasthan the top millet-producing state, catering to over 40 per cent of total production in the country. Karnataka also ranks pretty high in terms of millet production, with the state catering to over 40 per cent of total production in the country. Karnataka also ranks pretty high in terms of millet production, with the state producing over 3 lakh tonnes of millets every year.
Millets are among the first plants to be domesticated and are considered “nutri-cereals” due to their high nutritional content. They have served as a traditional staple for hundreds of millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia for 7 000 years, and are now cultivated across the world. However, their cultivation is declining in many countries, and their potential to address climate change and food security is not being realized in full. This is despite the fact that millets can grow on relatively poor soils and under adverse and arid conditions, with comparatively fewer inputs than other cereals. The need to promote the diversity and nutritional and ecological benefit of millets to consumers, producers, value chain actors, and decision makers is timely, and can improve food sector linkages. As such, a proposal for an International Year of Millets (2023) was brought forward by the Government of India and endorsed by Members of FAO Governing Bodies, as well as by the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly.
Chemical-free natural farming announced by Indian Finance Minister in the budget
The finance minister also noted that chemical-free natural farming would be promoted throughout the nation with a focus on 5-km-wide corridors of farmer land along the River Ganga.
International Yoga Day 2022
The Union Ministry of Ayush has ‘Yoga for Humanity’ as the theme for International Day of Yoga, 2022. The eighth edition of the International Day of Yoga would be organised on June 21, with the main event in Mysuru, Karnataka. The theme of last year’s event was ‘Yoga for Wellness’.
Theme of International Women’s Day 2022
For 2022, the UN given theme is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, which aims to recognise women who are working to build a more sustainable future.Every year, March 8th is celebrated as International Women’s Day around the globe. While Women’s Day traces its history to feminist movements in Europe and America in the early 1900s, the day became mainstream after it was adopted by the United Nations in 1977. In 1996, the UN announced “Celebrating the past, planning for the future” as the theme for Women’s Day. Since then every year a theme is given to mark the celebrations and gender rights advocacy work.
However, the International Women’s Day website diverted from the UN given theme and announced: “Break The Bias” as this year’s concept. The website explains the values of their theme as, “A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.” Interestingly, people are also symbolising this theme with the “Wakanda Forever” gesture which was taken from the 2018 movie Black Panther. The sign, that is made by crossing one’s hands in an X shape in front of one’s chest, has come to denote excellence, pride, and power.
World Environment Day 2022
Sweden was the host country of the World Environment Day 2022, World Environment Day is hosted by a different country every year where celebrations and meetings take place. Since 1974, World Environment Day has been celebrated annually, and it has become an important platform for promoting progress on the environmental dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Led by the UNEP, over 150 countries participate each year in the events. Big corporations, non-governmental organisations, communities, governments, and celebrities around the world come under one banner to champion environmental causes. The first World Environment Day was observed with the slogan “Only One Earth” 50 years ago. Five decades later, it still stands true as the Earth is still our only home, and humanity must safeguard its finite resources. The World Environment Day 2022 global campaign uses the theme #OnlyOneEarth to call for transformative changes to policies and choices to enable cleaner, greener, and sustainable living in harmony with nature.
Current heads of Multilateral Institutions
World Trade Organization
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the seventh Director-General of the WTO. She took office on 1 March 2021, becoming the first woman and the first African to serve as Director-General. Her term of office will expire on 31 August 2025. Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a global finance expert, an economist and international development professional with over 30 years of experience working in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America. Dr Okonjo-Iweala was formerly Chair of the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Previously, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala twice served as Nigeria’s Finance Minister (2003-2006 and 2011-2015) and briefly acted as Foreign Minister in 2006, the first woman to hold both positions.
World Bank
David R. Malpass was selected as 13th President of the World Bank Group by its Board of Executive Directors on April 5, 2019. His five-year term began on April 9.Mr. Malpass previously served as Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs for the United States. Mr. Malpass represented the United States in international settings, including the G-7 and G-20 Deputy Finance Ministerial, World Bank–IMF Spring and Annual Meetings, and meetings of the Financial Stability Board, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
International Monetary Fund
Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, from Bulgaria, is Managing Director and Chairman of the Executive Board from October 1, 2019. Madame Christine Lagarde, from France, was Managing Director and Chairman of the Executive Board from July 5, 2011 to September 12, 2019. Indian-American economist Gita Gopinath, who previously served as Chief Economist, was appointed as First Deputy Managing Director, effective January 21, 2022.
United Nations
- António Guterres, the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations, took office on 1st January 2017. António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres GCC GCL is a Portuguese politician and diplomat. UN General Assembly appointed Antonio Guterres as the UN Secretary General for a second term beginning January 1, 2022, days after the powerful Security Council had unanimously recommended his name to the 193-member body for re-election. President of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly Volkan Bozkir announced that Guterres has been appointed by acclamation Secretary General of the United Nations for the second term of office beginning on January 1, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2026.
- The secretary-general of the United Nations (UNSG or SG) is the chief administrative officer of the United Nations and head of the United Nations Secretariat, one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. The secretary-general is appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.
- As the recommendation must come from the Security Council, any of the five permanent members of the council can veto a nomination. Most secretaries-general are compromise candidates from middle powers and have little prior fame.
- The length of the term is discretionary, but all secretaries-general since 1971 have been appointed to five-year terms.
- Every secretary-general since 1961 has been re-selected for a second term, with the exception of Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who was vetoed by the United States in the 1996 selection.
President of United Nations
The president of the United Nations General Assembly is a position voted for by representatives in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on a yearly basis. The president is the chair and presiding officer of the General Assembly. Abdulla Shahid is the current president since 14 September 2021. On 7 June 2021, he was elected as the 76th president of the United Nations General Assembly with an overwhelming three-fourth majority, with 143 in favour, 48 against and no abstentions and no invalid votes. Shahid is the first Maldivian politician to become the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations. He is a Maldivian politician who has served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Maldives since 2018.
President of European Commission
Ursula von der Leyen, née Ursula Albrecht, (born October 8, 1958, Brussels, Belgium), Belgian-born German politician who was the first woman to serve as Germany’s minister of defense (2013–19). In July 2019 she became the first woman to be elected president of the European Commission. The president of the European Commission is the head of the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union. The President of the Commission leads a Cabinet of Commissioners, referred to as the College, collectively accountable to the European Parliament.
New President of European Parliament
President of Maltese conservative politician Roberta Metsola is the new president of the European Parliament. The Maltese politician is only the third woman at the head of the European Parliament, following in the footsteps of her French predecessors Simone Veil and Nicole Fontaine. The European Parliament is the EU’s lawmaking body, representing the bloc’s 450 million citizens. It is directly elected by EU voters every five years. Roberta Metsola is a Maltese politician serving as President of the European Parliament since January 2022. Metsola was first elected to as a Member of the European Parliament in 2013, and became the First Vice-President of the European Parliament in November 2020.
NATO Secretary General
The secretary general of NATO is the chief civil servant of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The officeholder is an international diplomat responsible for coordinating the workings of the alliance, leading NATO’s international staff, chairing the meetings of the North Atlantic Council and most major committees of the alliance, with the notable exception of the NATO Military Committee, as well as acting as NATO’s spokesperson. The secretary general does not have a military command role; political, military and strategic decisions ultimately rest with the member states. Together with the chairman of the NATO Military Committee and the supreme allied commander, the officeholder is one of the foremost officials of NATO.
The current secretary general is former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who took office on 1 October 2014. Stoltenberg’s mission as secretary general was extended for another four-year term, meaning that he was to lead NATO until September 30, 2022. However, due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, his term was extended further by another year.
General Tod D. Wolters assumed duties as NATO’s 19th Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) on May 3, 2019. As SACEUR, he is one of NATO’s two strategic commanders and commands Allied Command Operations (ACO), which is responsible for the planning and execution of all Alliance operations. Tod Daniel Wolters (born 13 October 1960) is a United States Air Force four-star general.