La revue officielle des fonctionnaires internationaux – The official magazine of international civil servants

Afghanistan TRYING PEACE AGAINST ALL ODDS

GLOBAL AFFAIRS P.20 WHO P.30 ARTS & CULTURE P.42 Sri Lanka and Alternative Working Curcuma, a the Work of the Arrangements in Miracle for your Conference on the UN Common Corpore Sano Disarmament 778 – APRIL 2018 778 – System O N Think Healthcare without BORDERS

Supplemental health insurance for UN, ILO and WHO staff members For subscription, contact GPAFI www.gpafi.com

New attractive conditions for WHO members

International Health Insurance www.uniqa.ch La revue officielle des fonctionnaires internationaux – The official magazine of international civil servants

Afghanistan TRYING PEACE AGAINST ALL ODDS

GLOBAL AFFAIRS P.20 WHO P.30 ARTS & CULTURE P.42 Sri Lanka and Alternative Working Curcuma, a ALEXANDER MEJIA the Work of the Arrangements in Miracle for your Conference on the UN Common Corpore Sano Disarmament 778 – APRIL 2018 778 – System O N Rédacteur en chef / Editor-in-chief © Relief Without Borders | http://www.reliefwoborders.org

This issue of UN Special highlights the con- Cette édition du UN Special met en lumière flict in Afghanistan that has been running le conflit en Afghanistan qui dure depuis for 17 years. This war, unfortunately, hasn’t 17 ans. Malheureusement, cette guerre generated the global awareness necessary n’a pas généré la prise de conscience to reach a negotiated peace and continues globale nécessaire pour parvenir à une ÉDITORIAL / EDITOR’S NOTE 3 to rage. We invite you to learn more about paix négociée. Dans le premier article, the situation in this war-torn country in nous vous invitons à en apprendre davan- FEATURED / À LA UNE the opening article, which tells the history tage sur la situation de ce pays, l’histoire Operation enduring war 5 of the war, where we stand now, and lays et origines de la guerre, et où nous en Interview with Her Excellency out the – admittedly difficult – way ahead. sommes aujourd’hui. Vous trouverez Suraya Dalil 8 Additionally, you will find interviews with aussi des entretiens avec l’Ambassadeur Female workers reaching Ambassador Suraya Dalil, the Permanent Suraya Dalil, Représentant Permanent de every last child 10 Representative of Afghanistan in Geneva l’Afghanistan à Genève et avec le Dr Rik Afghanistan, still a country in conflict 12 and with Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, WHO Rep- Peeperkorn, Représentant de l’OMS en Dilemmas around using militias resentative in Afghanistan. The centerfold Afghanistan. La page centrale vous don- to fight the 14 will give you a timeline of the ongoing con- nera une chronologie du conflit en cours. From to Nashville. flict. We also invite you to read about the Nous vous invitons également à lire les Building bridges via photography 16 dilemmas surrounding the relationship dilemmes entourant la relation avec les with the Taliban, and how photography et comment la photographie peut / NATIONS UNIES can be used to build bridges. être utilisée pour construire des ponts. The Defeat-NCD Partnership Universal NCD care. Everywhere. At anytime. 28 In this edition we also speak about Sri Dans cette édition, nous parlons égale- Lanka’s contributions to the international ment des contributions du Sri Lanka à la Simultaneous interpretation 32 community. You can read an interview with communauté internationale. Vous pouvez Knowledge and Learning Commons. 33 H. E. Mr. Ravinatha P. Aryasinha, Perma- lire une interview de S.E. M. Ravinatha Celebrating Multilingualism – nent Representative of Sri Lanka in Geneva, P. Aryasinha, Représentant Permanent Language Days at UNOG 36 who shares his thoughts on his country’s de Sri Lanka à Genève, qui partage ses WHO / OMS role on the global stage and, among other réflexions sur le rôle de son pays sur la things, the recent meeting that allowed the scène mondiale et la récente réunion qui Exploring precision global health at the Geneva Health Forum 2018 26 Conference on Disarmament to resume its a permis à la Conférence du Désarmement substantive work after many years. de reprendre ses travaux de fond après de Alternative working arrangements in the UN common system 30 Several other articles in this edition are nombreuses années. related to health. You will find an overview Plusieurs articles de ce numéro portent GLOBAL AFFAIRS / AFFAIRE GLOBALES of the upcoming bi-yearly Geneva Health sur la santé, tel que cet article sur le pro- Sri Lanka Permanent mission interview 20 Forum that brings together participants chain forum sur la santé Geneva Health Working from the heights of La Paz, from all over the world. This year saw Forum qui rassemble des participants du Bolivia. An experience to share. 44 also the launch of a non-communica- monde entier, ou le lancement d’une ini- ble diseases (NCDs) initiative, called the tiative sur les maladies non transmissibles ART & CULTURE Defeat-NCD Partnership. We encourage you (NCDs), appelée le partenariat Defeat-NCD. Tradition: a museum object? 38 to learn more about this initiative’s work En lien avec le sujet principal de ce mois, Myanmar (Birmanie) and ambitions. Going back to this month’s l’Afghanistan, vous pouvez lire sur l’im- Pagodes, temples et monastères 40 main focus, Afghanistan, you may also read portant travail accompli par les agentes Curcuma – a miracle for about the important work done by female d’éradication de la polio dans ce pays. Sur your corpore sano 42 polio-workers in this country. In this light, ce point, nous vous souhaitons un mois en we wish you a healthy month ahead! Q bonne santé ! Q JEUNES REPORTERS / YOUNG REPORTERS La science dans le changement climatique 46 The official magazine of the international La revue officielle des fonctionnaires civil servants of the United Nations at internationaux des Nations Unies à Genève Geneva and of the Word Health Organization et de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé

UN Special – April 2018 | 3

WORK AND LIFE, FINALLY BALANCED. SUITS YOUR NEEDS. THE FIRST-EVER BMW X2.

Shazam the code now and discover the BMW X2. FEATURED / À LA UNE

Operation enduring war

Afghanistan today is in a Kabul once a year until 2013. A tournament of shadows I developed a special apprecia- Grand mountain peaks cover dire situation and is still tion for this war-torn nation and large parts of Afghanistan. struggling for peace. We are ended up feeling at ease roaming Their jagged, snow-covered Chicken Street or going out at peaks have not only fueled left to wonder: how could it night to eat kabuli palaw. into the never-ending cat and mouse game between opposing have come so far? In December 2014, it was forces, they stand as a persis- announced that the war was tent reminder for the intense over. Sort of. The tone of inter- history this country in the heart national headlines following of south-central Asia had to the official end of the U.S. endure. combat mission in Afghani- ALEX MEJIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF stan was grim and the outlook Looking back in time, it is I went to Kabul as a UN official pessimistic. After 13 years of difficult to pinpoint an exact for the first time in 2009. I still bloodstained conflict, hardly moment that defined Afghani- remember the uneasy anxiety I anyone believed that the end stan’s situation in the modern felt while riding downtown from of Operation Enduring Free- times. Lying along historically the airport to the Serena hotel dom would equal the end of important trade routes, it has in an armored car. The hotel war. On the contrary, recent long been a coveted prize for had been bombed the previous years have been some of the grand powers. A series of wars year and I was relieved when I bloodiest since the beginning in the 19th century, dubbed arrived and had to go through of the war in 2001. And while Great Game by the British and four security layers to reach the America’s longest war in his- Tournament of Shadows by the reception. My initial meetings at tory may have officially ended Russians, left the country unsta- the ministry of foreign affairs some three years ago, Afghani- ble and isolated. Short periods and the ministry of finance stan today is in a dire situation of opening and liberal reforms were only the prelude for what with little hope for peace. We were quickly succeeded by vio- would become a multi-year pro- are left to wonder: how could lent coups and civil wars. In ject that would put me back in it have come so far? 1979, the Soviet Army invaded

UN Special – April 2018 | 5 Afghanistan and installed a In the following years, the Freedom came to its official for so long. The official strategy communist government which Afghan people elected several end. But did it really? of the US, mainly continuing was finally toppled in 1992 by presidents in democratic elec- President Obama’s approach, western-backed mujahedeen. tions and saw the establish- A decline in confidence is to use a mix of conventional ment of a government that has General Assembly resolution military force and diplomatic The consequential power vac- tried to provide public services 68/11 and Security Coun- pressure on , where uum saw the rise of the Tal- that continue to be challenged cil resolution 2344 (2017) it is argued that jihadist find iban who finally took control outside urban areas. Since the request the United Nations sanctuaries. of Kabul in 1996. In the same invasion, hundreds of schools Secretary-General to report year, Osama bin Laden estab- and health facilities have been every three months on devel- While a coherent and compre- lished his al-Qaeda’s headquar- constructed, billions of dollars opments in Afghanistan. The hensive strategy for Afghani- ters in Kabul and initiated a in aid have been invested to latest report from 27 February stan would be more welcome partnership between the two improve the country’s infra- 2018 calls the security situation than ever, it seems far out of terrorist organisations. With structure, economy, transport, in the country “highly unstable” reach today. “We don’t want the support from al-Qaeda, the and agriculture. However, and sees the “already minimal to talk to the Taliban. We’re Taliban took over large parts of while the government was progress towards peace nego- going to finish what we have the country and introduced a able to build some democratic tiations” hindered by series of to finish, what nobody else has hard-line version of Islam. structures, much of the ini- attacks and the public reactions been able to finish, we’re going tial success has dwindled and to them, threatening to further to be able to do it,” President Back in the spotlight Afghanistan’s security situa- the decline in confidence in the Trump said in January of this Following the 9/11 attacks tion outside its capital is dire. Afghan government. year, deviating from his admin- in the , atten- Indeed, not much time passed istrations official stance and tion quickly focused again on between the Taliban’s swift fall The solution for Afghanistan, causing some surprise among Afghanistan. After all, Osama from power to their return as ultimately, has to be political, US officials. bin Laden, the mastermind an insurgency, stirring up chaos the US State Department said behind the attacks, was sta- in several provinces. last February. Meanwhile, the Susan Rice, the Obama adminis- tioned in the country and the diplomatic situation can at best tration’s National Security Advi- Taliban had provided a train- Responding to the growing be described as “complicated”. sor and its first ambassador to ing ground for the terrorists instability, American troop Recently, at an international the UN wrote in the New York that crashed the planes on numbers began to surge conference in Afghanistan’s times in late March that peace American soil. When the Tal- upwards, first under Presi- capital Kabul on 28 Feb, Kabul’s talks are the only way to end iban didn’t meet the United dent Bush, and then under government offered to work the war, but that in her opinion States’ terms for handing in President Obama, under whose with the Taliban as a political they will likely fail. Jim Mattis, bin Laden, on October 7, 2001, administration they peaked actor. However, the Taliban view the Trump administration’s cur- US President George W. Bush at around 100´000 in 2010 the government as illegitimate rent Secretary of Defense said announced that airstrikes tar- – 10 times more than after and argue that the conflict is not during a recent surprise visit to geting Al Qaeda and the Tali- the war’s first year. The huge between Afghan parties. They Afghanistan that some Taliban ban had begun in Afghanistan. surge in troop numbers was are instead calling for direct factions are interested in talks, Operation Enduring Freedom part of the Obama adminis- negotiations with Washington. however so far they have not had commenced. In the course tration’s renewed strategy for responded to the peace talks of the following weeks, more Afghanistan. The objective, The way ahead proposal. It seems they believe and more countries offered the US said, was to diminish So how are we going to solve they have the upper hand in a troops for the effort. Initially, the Taliban and to strengthen this crisis? At least in theory, continued military campaign. success was swift. The U.S.- Afghan institutions, aiming all parties have in common that Military analysts assume that led coalition quickly removed to bring the war to its end by they view a military solution the Taliban has increased its the Taliban from power and 2014. The so-called troop surge as impossible. Indeed, it seems financial capabilities last year seriously crippled al-Qaeda ended by late 2014, when troop hard to believe how a military and that they have what it takes and associated militants in levels had decreased to roughly solution could be conceivable to continue fighting. Opium Afghanistan. 10´000 and Operation Enduring after the war has dragged on production in Afghanistan has

optometry - contact lenses - eyewear - instruments

Cours de Rive 15, Geneva - 022 735 29 11

6 | UN Special – Avril 2018 reached a record high despite political option would be the 17 years in, central ques- to return several times to the US and international efforts to only road ahead. However, if tions remain unanswered and Palais des Nations where he destroy poppy fields and opium the Taliban is not interested, it nobody really knows what lies would keep them in separate production for more than a would be –unfortunately- likely ahead for this country. The rooms and would do whatever decade. Unemployment and that the status quo will lead to UN and its mission in Kabul, necessary to avoid face-to-face a protracted war have driven a stalemate for many years to UNAMA, remain at the center encounters with their enemies. an increase in both supply and come. President Trump has of the peace efforts to end the It is part of the anecdote book demand in the country and last considered that option and his war. But the outlook becomes of our beloved Palais that one year 9,000 tonnes were pro- administration has assumed even more bleak with the pass- day he ordered our security to duced, an increase of 87 per- already that 15,000 troops will ing of the years. This is a good lock opposing representatives cent versus the previous year. remain in Afghanistan, at an moment to remember an illus- in separate bathrooms to pre- With that increased revenue, annual cost of $45 billion, the trious compatriot of mine, the vent unplanned encounters. He the Taliban has more cash for minimum necessary to main- late Ecuadorian diplomat Diego can still teach us that there is weapons and fighters. That tain the Afghan government Cordovez, the UN Undersecre- always hope at the end of the is hardly the case of a nearly in place and avoid the danger tary-General for Political Affairs tunnel. “It has happened that defeated insurgency, as the US of increased terrorist attacks that led the peace negotiations everybody has given up except administration has been try- around the world. That scenario that ended the Soviet occupa- myself. But not to give up was ing to portray its enemy until does not include the defeat of tion of Afghanistan in 1988. my duty.” Mr. Cordovez told the recently. the Taliban and could last only When the negotiations seemed Washington Post once. until the American public sup- doomed and the warring par- A new day ports the investment in blood ties were no longer willing to Thirty years after that peace To this day, the war has resulted and treasure. That could lead engage in diplomacy, he would agreement, it remains our in over 100,000 war-related to an eventual replacement of travel back and forth to Afghan- duty to not give up. We remain deaths and over 110,000 the American-led intervention istan, the Soviet Union, Paki- convinced that Afghanistan will injured people. At least one by support troops from Russia, stan and the United States for see peace again. Optimism third of the Afghan territory is , China or India. The Afghan the sake of maintaining com- against all odds is part of the in the hands of the insurgency. government would continue a munication with the actors over essence of who we are. This is If the military option is not via- strategy of survival and the dinners and cigars. He man- the UN after all. Q ble to defeat the Taliban, the country will continue to bleed. aged to convince the insurgency

UN Special – April 2018 | 7 FEATURED / À LA UNE Interview with Her Excellency Suraya Dalil

Ambassador Suraya Dalil1 is a physician by training and earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health. © UNITAR – SDP © UNITAR Ambassador Suraya Dalil with UN Special Editor-in-Chief Alex Mejia.

SEBASTIAN HOFBAUER against corruption, accountability, trans- A few years ago, when I was minister, Before working with the Afghan Gov- parency or even climate change. a mother told me that since they had ernment, Ambassador Dalil worked with water at home, her daughter didn’t need UNICEF in Afghanistan, Pakistan and In Afghanistan, women used to be largely to go and fetch water, which took several Nairobi and also with the International discriminated against during the Taliban hours every day. Thanks to this improve- Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Med- time. Today, they are still affected by many ment, she now has enough time to go to icines Sans Frontiers (MSF) in Afghanistan. challenges, such as the conflict situation school. So various improvements in life, Between 2011 and 2014, she was first act- or the social-economic constraints, includ- in terms of access to water, to electricity ing Minister and then Minister of Public ing poverty. But what I am hopeful for is and food security, can all be important Health in Afghanistan. For almost 2 and a the young women, girls - and also boys predeterminants of decisions that a family half years, she has been the Ambassador of - who see things differently. They ask will make about girls’ enrolment, about Afghanistan to Switzerland and Permanent questions in a way that very few people their retention in school, and even early Representative to the UN and International have asked before. I also see that they marriages. organisation based in Geneva. are very enthusiastic for positive change, and that they want to have a voice in Today, unfortunately, we witness an urban- UN Special Editor-in-chief Alex Mejia sat decision making. rural divide in Afghanistan. Can you tell us down with Ambassador Suraya Dalil to what will happen to places, especially in speak about gender advancement, Afghan- Afghanistan’s women and girls have made rural areas, where the government cannot istan’s path towards peace and her expec- a lot of advancements in the last few years. fully provide its services to citizens? tations of the United Nations. Around 40 % of enrolment in the primary First of all, the Taliban have demonstrated schools are girls and 27 % of seats in the their inability to keep control of a place that Ambassador Dalil, along your career you have parliament occupied by women, which they capture. There are places which are been very active on gender advancement: is a quite impressive number given the controlled sometimes by the Government how do you see, both globally and region, but even worldwide. We have three and sometimes by the Taliban. The Gov- specifically in Afghanistan, the challenges female cabinet members and four female ernment is trying to reach out with services and opportunities of gender advancement? Ambassadors, including myself. It is also to the entire population but, unfortunately, Gender equality is an important issue for important to say that women are now very the urban-rural divide exists in the country. many of us, and we need to act in many open to explore new fields like IT, entrepre- We have a Ministry of Rural Development areas such as social policies, education, neurship, engineering, security and police, that, with support from donor agencies health care, governance and security, con- and they do not stick to being teachers or and international development partners, flict resolution and prevention, the fight nurses as they did until the 1980’s. is working to reduce this.

8 | UN Special – Avril 2018 Specifically, the government developed It’s also important for the entire region, to reduce, or to gradually end, the need the Citizens’ Charter last year. It aims to our neighbouring countries, to understand for foreign aid. improve the delivery of core infrastructure that peace in Afghanistan is also for their and social services to participating com- own benefit. Because time and again it has How is that possible to do? It’s possible munities through strengthened Commu- been proven that they cannot be in peace through system development and institu- nity Development Councils. The Citizens’ and prosperity in the long term if their tional development. However, usually the Charter was an important step to reducing neighbour is not in peace. This is a lesson United Nation’s time and patience is not the gap and to increasing attention and that, I think, humanity should have learned. enduring to do that, because the organ- investment into the rural population. isation is usually working on short-term How do you see the role of the United projects and then there is also staff turn- When I was a child, in my history books, Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan over. Really, I would like the UN to do less I read that Afghanistan is the heart of Asia (UNAMA) and the United Nations things and do them with more efficiency and it was the transit point for the silk organisation, as a whole, in the future? and more output and impact. Q road. We want to revitalize that heritage I am reminded of an important statement: because we believe that, when countries “The purpose of foreign aid is to end the 1 Ambassador of Afghanistan to Switzerland and Permanent Representative to the UN and are trading, they don’t fight. We have need for its existence.” The United Nations International organisation based in Geneva regionally cooperation conferences in should help the Government in Afghanistan Afghanistan called RECCA (Regional Eco- nomic Cooperation for Afghanistan). There is also the TAPI Pipeline (Turkmenistan- Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) which passes four countries, creating thousands of jobs. Similarly, there is CASA-1000 (Central Asia-South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Program), which is a program for electricity transmission between Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. With more connectivity from such projects, we hope that the regions It’s amazing or the countries will have an interest in maintaining the peace. how a few clicks Many people tend to think that military solution is not the ideal solution in can enhance Afghanistan and that a political solution is needed. President Ghani recently invited the Taliban to political dialogues. Does this your trip. offer have a timeframe and what are the next steps? The peace offer that our President put on ResaPark the table last month, on February 28, is a There’s always a parking space remarkable one. And differs from all discus- waiting for you at the airport. sions that took place during the last couple of years is putting bold items on the table. Priority Lane There hasn’t been a signal from the Tali- Don’t waste your time, ban yet but we don’t discard any potential get a priority access to the boarding area. answer from them. They either have to face the battlefield or come to the table. Other Lounge countries have handled this process, in More comfort at the airport, Europe for example, only a few decades ago. more relaxed at destination.

On March 21, we celebrate New Year in Afghanistan, which is the first day of spring. Reservation Unfortunately, spring is also the period www.gva.ch/eservices when conflict is intensified in Afghani- stan, because the good weather enables the insurgency to leave the shelters. So the coming spring will tell us how far the Taliban have considered the peace proposal that President Ghani put on the table.

UN Special – April 2018 | 9 FEATURED / À LA UNE © Tuuli Hongisto © Tuuli Mansoura vaccinates a girl in Kandahar, December 2017. Female polio workers reaching every last child

There is no cure for polio, but TUULI HONGISTO, COMMUNICATIONS vaccinator in a health centre, OFFICER, WHO AFGHANISTAN and have been working in the it can be prevented. The polio I meet Zainab1 in front of a busy polio eradication programme vaccine, given multiple times, can park full of playing children. since I graduated.”

protect a child for life. She kneels with a team of We move to meet her next female polio vaccinators in team. This team has vaccinated the middle of a noisy group of 49 children today, and it is only children and they start vacci- 9.30 in the morning. It is now nating, one by one, with con- the second day of the last vac- fident, quick moves. cination campaign of 2017. On the first day of the campaign, One of the team members the team vaccinated a total of hands out orange and green 138 children. balloons after marking the chil- dren’s fingers in blue marker Convincing people to vaccinate pen to show they have received their children is not always the vaccination. The children easy. “People believe that vac- enthusiastically show off their cinations reduce fertility and balloons and blue fingers. cause disrespectful behaviour in children. We tell them this Zainab has recently been pro- is not true”, Zainab explains. moted and now supervises five female vaccination teams. This time all children are vac- She enjoys her work. “I like cinated without problems and to be a supervisor and have Zainab’s team member Asma1 my own teams. I used to be a marks the wall with chalk.

10 | UN Special – Avril 2018 © Tuuli Hongisto © Tuuli Waris, 5, gets OPV in Loya Wala, Kandahar, December 2017. © Tuuli Hongisto © Tuuli Hongisto © Tuuli Mansoura (right) supervises a female vaccinator team. 5-year-old Waris received a balloon after OPV vaccine in Loya Wala, Kandahar In December 2017.

More female workers, as a district polio officer in Kan- Kandahar is a challenging area not something women would more children reached dahar, explained that prior to for polio: the first case in the often do in her region. “It is not with vaccines using female polio workers, world was found here in 2017, very usual for women to work There are almost 70,000 front children who were newborn and recent environmental sam- in Kandahar, but my family line polio workers in Afghan- and sleeping were often missed ples have found poliovirus cir- supports and encourages me.” istan, of whom less than 10% in the vaccination campaign. culating in the region.In 2017, Women like Zainab are in the are female. This is possibly “When the men were working one district in the province, frontline of polio eradication, the largest female workforce in town, there was often no-one Shahwalikot, had 5 polio cases ensuring vaccines reach every in Afghanistan. who could take the children out in 2017, more than any district child every time. Q of the house to be vaccinated in the world. Some regions have more female when the teams knocked at 1 Name changed. workers than others. In urban the door. Females can enter Rahman explained that areas, around a third of the the houses, but males cannot.” although there are female polio workers are female, whereas workers working in the area, it in rural areas the propor- The vaccination coverage in can be difficult to recruit them tion is much lower. However, the region is now improving, as as many think women should the role of females is crucial. female vaccinators have more not work. She added that her Habibur Rahman, who works access to the children. joining the polio workforce was

ATRA AUTOMOBILES GENÈVE SA Chemin Delay 23 1214 Vernier * 022 979 20 00 www.atra.ch NEW DIPLOMATIC SALES ON ALL MODELS GARAGE DU NOUVEAU SALON SA Route de Ferney 185 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex 022 798 71 32 www.nouveau-salon.ch

25% discount for all legitimation card holders* * voir conditions Garage.

UN Special – April 2018 | 11 FEATURED / À LA UNE Interview with Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, WHO Representative Afghanistan Afghanistan, still a country in conflict

“The lack of peace, insecurity and high level of volatility is on everyone’s mind and the challenge, not only for all Afghans, but also for WHO and anyone working for development. Access to large parts of the country is limited and a major obstruction to helping provide more sustained humanitarian and development support.”

Dr Richard Peeperkorn Afghanistan Communications Officer, Hongisto, © Tuuli EMERGENCY Trauma Care Hospital, Lashkargah, Helmand Province, December 2017. Dr Mohamad Khushal (Chief Trauma surgeon), patient and Dr Rik Peeperkorn. WHO supports the NGO EMERGENCY which runs three trauma hospitals in Afghanistan.

Dr. Richard Peeperkorn Health Sector, and therefore for me as the is a national of the Neth- WHO Representative, is the lack of financial erlands, and WHO Repre- investments in health. With approximately sentative to Afghanistan 5 US$ per capita for the Basic Package of since August 2013. He Health Services (BPHS) and Essential Pack- leads a large and com- age of Hospital Services (EPHS) it will be a prehensive programme massive challenge to improve service delivery. with more than 350 staff, one central office and eight sub-offices, offering implemen- Afghanistan receives considerable official tation support and technical assistance in development assistance, however support many key health and humanitarian areas. is mainly focused on security, rule of law, He talks to UN Special about his work in and infrastructure, while basic services this country in turmoil. are underrepresented. Domestic resource mobilization needs to be substantially What are the main challenges you face as increased as well. Investment in health is WR Afghanistan? and will remain a key challenge. Substantial progress has been made over the last 15 years in adverse circumstances. How close is WHO to eradicating polio in Although Afghanistan has a comprehensive Afghanistan? public health strategy, the health indica- Afghanistan is close to stopping the trans- tors are still worrisome, and the coverage mission of the Wild Polio virus. Afghani- and quality of services delivery need to be stan has made significant progress in polio improved. The biggest challenge for the eradication. Together with its partners

12 | UN Special – Avril 2018 (Government & UNICEF) WHO staff are government, guiding the humanitarian project, aiming to train more than 7,000 doing an incredible job in very challeng- health response, with a focus on trauma frontline health workers. ing circumstances. Most of the country is care, emergency Primary Health Care, free of polio, and transmission is now lim- supplies & equipment and monitoring of We refocused and prioritized the WHO ited to 2 provinces, Kandahar (South) and epidemics and outbreak. support programme in line with and Nangarhar (East). These provinces have complementary to the overall Government issues of access, pockets of families refus- But WHO is also providing drugs for treat- Development Framework and National ing vaccines, nomads, internally displaced ing TB & Neglected Tropical Diseases Health Policy & Strategy, and as part of people, /returnees and overall high (assisting The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, the ongoing One UN exercise, which is led population movement between Afghanistan Tuberculosis and Malaria & the Vaccine by WHO. Q and Pakistan, which form one common epi- Alliance GAVI), reproductive, maternal, demiological block. newborn, child and adolescent health and Given the situation, where the work pressure is intense, Dr. Peeperkorn finds the work challenging but nutrition surveillance. Introduction of the fascinating, and describes Afghanistan a great place to The access situation in Kandahar has gender-based violence medical treatment work. In short WHO has become a well-positioned and improved significantly over the past few protocol proved to be an innovative WHO a prominent player in the health and humanitarian area in Afghanistan. months due to continuous dialogue at all levels with relevant authorities for main- taining neutrality for polio. In principle, all parties to the conflict respect health/ polio as a neutral subject. Even so, issues of access still occur on a regular basis, particularly for polio vaccination. Jami Attenberg – Ted Conover – Helene Cooper

Afghanistan is implementing a new Shulem Deen – Douglas Kennedy National Emergency Action Plan for 2018. The plan has a specific focus on the North- ern and Southern corridors with Pakistan, as well as a strategy to reach high risk mobile populations.

What are the main achievements since you took up office in the country? This is my 5th year in Afghanistan. With my team, I focused on local resource mobiliza- tion for the very much needed programmes. We have been very successful in resource mobilization; not only in the humanitarian area (Polio & Health Emergencies & Epi- demics and Outbreaks response), but also in Communicable diseases such as TB, Malaria & Neglected Tropical Diseases), the Expanded Programme on Immunization, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, Gender Based Violence (GBV), nutrition and some of the health systems areas.

It is good to note that WHO Afghanistan is providing implementation support in key areas, besides policy advice and technical assistance. WHO is managing 8-10 Polio campaigns annually; ensuring that 65,000 volunteers are professionally engaged and in each round 8.5 million children are vac- cinated. Almost 100 million oral poliovirus vaccine doses are administered every year! In addition 27,000 volunteers are part of Performance live de Billy The Artist a well-run surveillance programme. WHO le vendredi 27 à 19h30 is also the Health Cluster lead; coordinat- ing and supporting the many NGOs and

UN Special – April 2018 | 13 FEATURED / À LA UNE Dilemmas around using militias to fight the Taliban

The risk of using DEEDEE DERKSEN1 with previous initiatives. The first stems In eastern Afghanistan, the government from Afghanistan’s history of government militias to fight the piloted this winter a new militia program. and foreign supported militias committing Taliban and the Islamic Its plan is to roll out the program to other human rights abuses – a long-standing areas of the country after mid-2018 and problem. Over the past 16 years much State is that it may eventually mobilize 36,000 members has been done to improve oversight over ultimately lead to an (including 7,500 officers from the Afghan official ’village defense forces’ such as the National Army). The government is strug- current Afghan Local Police or ALP (with increase in instability gling against an increasingly strong Tali- 29,000 members) and make them more ban insurgency, which controls or contests accountable, though numerous illegal mili- and violence. at least 40 percent of Afghan territory tias continue to exist without oversight. In (according to U.S. government watchdog its annual report on civilian casualties in SIGAR, or the Special Inspector General for 2017 UNAMA, UN’s mission in Afghanistan, Afghanistan Reconstruction) but perhaps noted that ALP response to human rights as much as 70 percent (according to a BBC violations had improved, but also expressed study); more than at any point of time since concern about weak oversight and a ’pre- 2001. These areas are mostly remote, but vailing lack of accountability’. While civilian two devastating attacks in Kabul over the casualties caused by all pro-government winter (killing 130 in one week) showed armed forces had decreased by 23 percent once again that the insurgency is not just a since the year before, those caused by the rural phenomenon. Every large scale attack ALP had nearly doubled. is followed by another public outcry over the government’s apparent inability to pro- Yet, reactions to the ALP have been mixed. tect its citizens, increasing the pressure on Many communities have indicated that the it to act more effectively. village defense force has improved security in their area, while at the same time many In this mountainous and thinly populated have also complained about them. Indeed, country, it is, however, impossible for the during years of research I have conducted regular Afghan security forces (counting on Afghan armed groups in around ten around 330,000 members) to stay and provinces, villagers regularly pointed to hold areas after they have recaptured them militias’ behaviour as a reason that they from the Taliban or a (much smaller) local were disillusioned with the government, branch of the Islamic State. This would be with some even citing this as a reason to the main purpose of the new militias, a support the Taliban. They were especially so-called village defense force, named the frustrated about the impunity with which Territorial Forces. these armed men operated. They are cheaper than regular armed forces and more quickly deployable as The apparent paradox – the ALP seen as their training is more compressed. As they improving security by some, and as caus- deploy in their home areas, they also have ing more violence by others – is, at least intimate knowledge of the local security partly, explained by the second pitfall: ALP landscape, which regular security forces commanders and fighters are often loyal to often lack. They would probably play a powerbrokers with informal influence in major role in securing remote areas for the their areas, rather than to the state. These parliamentary and presidential elections, powerbrokers might be parliamentarians. which are supposed to be held respectively They might be provincial council mem- this and next year. bers or governors or strongmen without a government position. In some cases ALP As the program is rolled out, it is useful to commanders are loyal to the provincial explore some of the potential pitfalls that police chief, but not always primarily as this plan could face based on experiences part of the official chain of command, but

14 | UN Special – Avril 2018 In short, that the Afghan government and some of its international backers contem- plate all options to fight an increasingly strong insurgency is understandable. But the risk of using militias to fight the Tal- iban and the Islamic State is that it may ultimately lead to an increase in instability and violence. Some steps can be taken to mitigate. Ultimately, though, what makes militias or ’village defense forces’ attractive – that they are cheap and locally deployed – is also what makes them dangerous. Q

1 Doctoral Fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy © REUTERS/Nasir Wakif Afghan Local Police (ALP) forces sit on the back of a police pickup in Kunduz city.

as part of an informal local network. In my is unclear, as is the question if they will research I have not come across an ALP absorb existing militias or recruit new commander without these sort of connec- men. But the Afghan government has tions – whether they primarily directed his announced that in contrast to the ALP loyalty or not. the new force will be under command of the Ministry of Defense. This ministry is If they do – and it seemed often this was generally seen as less corrupt and less the case – then ALP commanders and fight- politicized than the Ministry of Interior. ers are accustomed to providing security Moreover, they will reportedly receive for some (namely, the powerbroker’s own more rigorous training. followers) but not others, and in some cases they resort to violence against local Possibly this will make a difference, but rivals. This then, at least partly, explains some fundamental dilemmas cannot be Saison 2018 – 2019 the apparent paradox mentioned above: solved. What makes deploying militias many communities view them as security attractive is also what makes them dan- Abonnez-vous ! providers, while many others see them as gerous. They are cheap and quickly deploy- troublemakers. Another problem is that able because they receive less training than the ALP may not always be trusted to fight members of regular armed forces. Were the Taliban, if that is not in the interest of these militias to receive the rigorous training their patrons. of regular forces, risks would diminish. But doing so would defeat the purpose of using The third pitfall in mobilizing militias them and not the regular army or police. is that when resources dry up they may end up joining the insurgents that they The other problem lies in deploying militias were supposed to be fighting. Indeed, my in their own, often remote and volatile, research has showed that in some places areas. To put the Territorial Forces under commanders have repeatedly switched command of the relatively capable Ministry Maxim Vengerov | Murray Perahia back and forth between pro-government of Defense sounds good on paper, but if the Daniel Barenboim | Maurizio Pollini militias and the Taliban, depending on government has little control in the areas Grigory Sokolov... resources. where the militias are deployed, oversight will always remain difficult. At the same 8 concerts Is it possible to mitigate against these time, to protect themselves, also for when au Victoria Hall, Genève pitfalls? Afghan authorities and their for- the program runs out, militia commanders eign backers claim they can do so, citing will have ties to powerbrokers with strong Abonnements : Agence Caecilia new measures to keep control over the local influence pursuing factional and per- +41 22 322 22 40 | [email protected] Territorial Forces. Much about how and sonal interests, which do not always align www.grandsinterpretes.ch where the Territorial Forces will operate with the government’s agenda.

UN Special – April 2018 | 15 FEATURED / À LA UNE © Relief Without Borders | http://www.reliefwoborders.org We are shop neighbours in the bazaar. We are both blacksmiths in the Parwan Province (not father and son – they are friends).

From Kabul to Nashville Building bridges via photography

Throughout the west, creative MASIH SADAT1 art of photography, young Sen- Young Americans and Europe- zela Atmar is facilitating from initiatives are launched in an attempt ans with roots in the region, Nashville a successful platform to challenge the war and conflict- in particular, are dealing with through which a broad, inter- their frustrations with what national audience are given dominated media coverage of the they view as an imbalanced an insight into everyday life Middle East. depiction of a wide, diverse in Afghanistan as well as the region with much else to offer option of directly contributing than seemingly only conflict to the restoring and empow- and tragedy. ering of the war-torn country.

By visualising everyday lives of Born in Afghanistan herself, for the peoples in the region, these Senzela, founder of RWB, the alternative media projects are project also has a very personal seeking to nuance and human- aspect to it. ize westerners’ information on the wider Middle East and build Giving back bridges between the two. Senzela Atmar was just a small child when she and her family One such project is the Ten- were forced to leave their home nessee-based non-profit organ- country in 1995. A 72-hour long isation Relief Without Borders2, ceasefire offered the Atmar Senzela Atmar previously known as People of family a rare chance to flee the Afghanistan. Focusing on the shelling and rocketing of Kabul,

16 | UN Special – Avril 2018 © Relief Without Borders | http://www.reliefwoborders.org “My father taught others how to be a mechanic, so I naturally learned the skill. My father also told me to join the military – to help defend our country. After many years in the military, I became a taxi driver. 35 years later I continue to drive the same vehicle. I don’t know how I haven’t wrecked it, or how the engine hasn’t broken down.”

crossing the border to neigh- Years later, now a citizen in the in the US to connect the two conversations in which people bouring Pakistan where they US, Senzela has certainly not countries and show people here ask me about my name and sought refuge in the camps. forgotten about her country how to get involved in the Mid- where I’m from. And so every of birth. By making use of the dle East.” talk I have ends up becoming After two years of waiting and knowledge and tools that she about Afghanistan, and then living under harsh conditions has gained through her growing Social media as a gateway I always have to clear the air and extreme insecurity, during up in America, Senzela decided Senzela Atmar believes Amer- and tell them how it’s not a which Senzela’s 11-year-old to materialize her wish to give icans’ knowledge on Afghan- bad country. It’s sad because brother was murdered by the back and support the people of istan and the Middle East I can tell that the only thing Taliban, hope finally arrived Afghanistan by launching the region in general sorely lacks they’ve seen is in the news when the family of seven awareness and empowerment nuance, restricted only to what and what they show in the received news from their visa project, Relief Without Borders: they see and hear in the news, news is scary men with AK47s lottery, containing a chance “It’s like this big circle for me and it has long been her wish killing each other. I’m always to join their relatives in the right now, where I’m trying to to bring about change in this defending it. After getting tired United States. use the skills that I’ve learned regard: “I’m always having of doing that at a local level,

et vous invitent à profiter de conditions exceptionnelles* réservées aux fonctionnaires internationaux.

ANNECY/SILLINGY ANNEMASSE/VILLE-LA-GRAND www.etoile-mont-blanc.com *Conditions exceptionnelles sur toute commande d’un GLC neuf hors AMG, offres réservées aux fonctionnaires internationaux (détenteurs d’une carte de légitimation ou d’un passeport diplomatique).

Consommations mixtes : 5-5,5 l/100 km - CO2 : 129-143 g/km.

UN Special – April 2018 | 17 © Relief Without Borders | http://www.reliefwoborders.org © Relief Without Borders | http://www.reliefwoborders.org “I heard my male sheep every year to the “Eid-al-Adha” celebration, an Islamic holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide each year Faroza is the oldest daughter to an to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to follow Allah’s command to sacrifice his son.” afghan family that migrated into Kabul from the Laghman province, that was no longer safe for their family so they were forced to move. In this picture, Faroza indulged in adding Henna to her hands. Henna is a temporary dye prepared from the plant Lawsonia inermis.

I wanted to create a project actually see their lack of inter- families. So it’s being smart Afghan people and supporting where I could show this com- est for a region of the world about how you deliver and them in various ways. mon humanity.” change.” doing it strategically in a way in which people are involved.” For Senzela, this seems like a By sharing people-focused pic- Help to self-help dream come true. Picture by tures and videos on their social The support for Relief Without Next level picture, she is creating aware- media platforms, captured by Borders was tremendous even “The beauty in our culture ness and building bridges while talented young photographers from the early stages, and it did speaks for itself. Traditions, the at the same time reconnect- in Afghanistan, RWB commu- not take long for the project to respect level that they have, ing with the place where she nicates shared human experi- grow further. With more than the generosity. There’s just so was born but later forced to ences across borders – and the 45,000 followers on their social much to show, that I never run flee from. feedback has been overwhelm- media platforms, the awareness out of things to talk about.” ingly positive. Senzela tells of project has evolved into one of “I was fortunate enough to many cases where people have several objectives. RWB have great visions for win the visa lottery to come changed their attitudes and the coming years and are no to America but that could easily opinions about Afghans com- Today, the organisation has longer limiting themselves to have been someone else, and so pletely, offering consequently launched several, successful aid Afghanistan – but right now, for me, I see so much of myself all kinds of help to their aid missions in Afghanistan, focus- that’s where the focus lies. in the work that we are doing programme, and she is certain ing on providing basic goods Sharing human-focused con- because I think I could easily that her awareness project is and necessities to families in tent to the outside world on have been another kid who lost having a great impact on the need, and works both with the Afghanistan and everything it their leg because they stepped outside view of Afghanistan and Afghan government and at a contains, thereby nuancing the on a butterfly mine … My heart its people. local level. Relief work is a core view of the country and its peo- really goes out to them.” Q element at RWB, but Senzela ple, remains a great passion 1 Masih Sadat is the Founding Editor- “It is unfortunate that there prioritises education greatly as for Senzela and is something in-Chief of “The Turban Times”, a are profiles classed on regions well as micro financial projects both RWB and their many fol- blog-based web magazine focusing on the Middle East, North Africa and of the world,” she adds, but and underlines their emphasis lowers are enjoying. By tak- Central Asia. Senzela still enjoys creating on empowerment and helping ing it to the next level, Relief 2 Learn more about this initiative: awareness on Afghanistan: to self-help:“We want to pro- Without Borders is now also http://www.reliefwoborders.org or visit “It’s okay that people that vide farmers with tools so actively engaging Americans their Facebook page www.facebook. com/reliefwithoutborders/ don’t know and for me it’s not that when we leave their vil- and other followers, through a frustration. I actually enjoy lage they have the equipment their visualisation of Afghan- telling people about it because I they need to provide for their istan, in connecting with the

18 | UN Special – Avril 2018 Find your place in the world Collège du Léman empowers students to realise their unique potential through an individual Open approach to education, contextualised in a truly global environment. Saturday 21st April Personalisation, choice, an international ethos from 09:30 to 12:00 and the highest academic standards combine to create an outstanding space for students to broaden their horizons, realise their talents house and find their place in the world. Register online at: CDL.CH/OPENHOUSE For students from 2 to 18 yrs

/CollegeDuLemanGeneva /CollegeDuLeman

UN Special – April 2018 | 19 GLOBAL AFFAIRS / AFFAIRES GLOBALES ©Sri Lanka Permanent Mission-Geneva ©Sri Lanka Permanent On 16 February 2018, the Conference on Disarmament(CD) under the Presidency of Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, unanimously adopted Decision CD/2119 establishing five subsidiary bodies to discuss all items in the CD Agenda, with a view to advance the substantive work of the conference. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressing the High-Level Segment of the CD on 26 February 2018 welcomed this decision stating, “I believe you are off to the best start in nearly two decades, and I look forward to building on this new momentum”. Sri Lanka’s contributions to the International Community

H. E. Mr. Ravinatha P. Aryasinha Under your leadership, the UN allow itself to be held captive Conference on Disarmament has by those rules. is the Ambassador and Permanent just passed a historic decision, Representative of the Democratic on 16 February, to resume its Our ability to forge this agree- substantive work. Please share ment is testimony to the fact Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the your thoughts with us on that that Sri Lanka makes its best UN in Geneva. process and its result. contributions, when it leads The decision taken on 16 from the center. It would not February 2018 was an impor- have worked if our positioning tant moment in our collective had led us either to be taken efforts to bring the Conference for granted or to be isolated. on Disarmament (CD) back to I think Sri Lanka was able to substantive work. As President carry everyone along because of the CD, my plea from the out- we were open and transpar- set was that while the Confer- ent, willing to listen, and had ence must be guided by the no pre-conceived agenda. As rules of procedure, it must not a result, countries were able

PROFITEZPROROFITEZ DEDE NONOSOS ATATELIERATELIERSELIERS

YourYoYour specialistspecialispeciali isti forfoor repairs,p i alterationsaalteratioterations aandd storagestorage 1, place Claparède, GENEVE - 022 346 28 55 - www.noelfourrures.ch

20 | UN Special – Avril 2018 Ambassador Aryasinha with heads of international organisations such as United Nations Office at Geneva, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the World Health Organization, the International Organization for Migration, the International Labour Organisation, UNCTAD, the Inter Parliamentary Union, CITES, the World Trade Organisation, the International Telecommunications Union, the Conference on Disarmament, CERN and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, at the inauguration of the ’Facets of Sri Lanka’ exhibition at the Sri Lanka

©Sri Lanka Permanent Mission-Geneva/Violaine©Sri Lanka Permanent Martin Independence Day celebrations.

to trust us. I think this trust is to work constructively. We must need to live and let live. Living with respect to its region. What what enabled us to forge an not loose this momentum. out this ideal of course becomes do you think accounts for this understanding on this decision, more complicated when you success? enabling the CD to try to move Sri Lanka is home to four major face a threat like terrorism, as Our nation’s success story with forward. religions and two main ethnic Sri Lanka did for almost thirty human development is not new. groups. What can you tell us years. It is easy to talk about In many ways, the concept of This decision was a compro- about your country’s initiatives these concepts, but when reali- sustainable development is mise and many parties wanted in interfaith, inter-ethnic, and ties such as terrorism come into built into the Sri Lankan way to see things happen soon. The intercultural dialogue? the picture, even the greatest of life. One might say it even necessity was for us to provide a As a country we have existed advocate for harmony may goes back to the advent of basis to move forward on all the for more than 2,500 years, and find it hard to stay balanced. Buddhism and the concept of issues on the CD agenda in par- across this time, all of these In this context, Sri Lanka has ecological equity. This value has allel: to safeguard the interests diverse communities have inter- at times perhaps lost its bal- helped build a symbiotic rela- of both - those who believe only mingled. Yes, there have been ance. But what is good and tionship between the people of one issue on the agenda is ripe tensions, but there are also very visible in my country is a Sri Lanka and our environment. for negotiation and others who many mechanisms and safe- conscious attempt not only to Yes, there have been conflicts are of the belief that there are guards in place at the constitu- ensure inter-religious harmony, from time to time, but through equally important low hanging tional, institutional, and societal but also to keep in place insti- it all; I believe we have man- fruits in the agenda. From the levels, to help living together. tutional mechanisms, so that in aged to keep focus. One key beginning, we were therefore case something does go wrong, factor is that, despite being a determined to carry everybody I believe that people are essen- that can be mitigated. I think lower-middle-income country, along. To me, the most signif- tially good. However, that such, both formal and informal Sri Lanka has provided free icant point was that once the goodness can get corrupted structural safeguards, are the access to education, health, and decision was adopted, some of by power, money, and other greatest strength of any society. many aspects of social welfare the delegations who have been means. I think one of society’s for the past five to six decades. the greatest skeptics of the CD greatest needs, which Sri Lanka We know that Sri Lanka enjoys a Many of us are the beneficiaries process, expressed willingness is now re-discovering, is the high Human Development Index of this system, which mitigates

VISION LASER, UNE NOUVELLE MANIÈRE DE VOIR LA VIE !

www.visionlaser.ch Place de la Gare 1 | 1225 Chêne-Bourg, Genève | +41 (0)22 860 80 60

UN Special – April 2018 | 21 H. E. Mr. Ravinatha P. Aryasinha, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva ©Sri Lanka Permanent Mission-Geneva/Violaine©Sri Lanka Permanent Martin “Rhythms of Sri Lanka’ State Dance Ensemble”

income inequalities, class and civil and political rights and the TV correspondent and inter- mutually exclusive. This job gender barriers, and other close cooperation with OHCHR viewer. However, having stud- is not ultimately about what gaps. This emphasis on the and other human rights mech- ied international relations, I speeches you make or deci- basics has been key. Accord- anisms have been engaging later decided I wanted to go sions you get passed, even ing to the most recent report, closely with the Government beyond merely reporting pol- though of course these are Sri Lanka has a Human Devel- icy, and actually help in mak- important milestones for pro- opment Index of 0.766, and As soon as the UN 2030 Agenda ing it. In 1988, I joined the Sri fessional record; but rather, we is ranked 73rd among 188 for Sustainable Development Lanka Foreign Service and was must judge our work by how countries. This success hasn’t came into being in 2015, Sri sent on my first posting to New many lives we empowered happened over night, but has Lanka very quickly identified Delhi. During my period back and what harm we prevented. happened over time. the need for a national vision in Colombo, on a secondment, We must always endavour to for it. Our Parliament also from 1993-1994 I worked as make a difference. Therein lies Now, our challenge is to passed a Sustainable Devel- the National Information Officer the eventual success and self enhance the quality of educa- opment Act in October 2017, to the UN system in Sri Lanka. satisfaction for any diplomat. tion, provide access to infor- and the Government will also Later between 1995-2000 and We must never forget that we mation technology, ensure the soon set up a Sustainable again in 2007-2008 during the are here to serve the common employability of youth so that Development Council and a height of terrorism in my coun- good, as we seek to protect our they get better paid decent jobs Secretariat, to implement the try, I served as Foreign Minis- national interest. Q within and outside the coun- national sustainable develop- try Spokesman, as Sri Lanka try, enabling them to contribute ment policy. In addition, we fought back the propaganda to the economy as productive remain very involved with the war of the LTTE. I also served citizens. Starting with a good UN Economic and Social Com- as Deputy Chief of Mission to Human Development Index is mission for Asia and the Pacific the US with Ambassador rank important for countries when (UN ESCAP) in Colombo. Our in Washington, D.C., and sub- they want to leapfrog: and that first Voluntary National Review sequently as Ambassador to the is what Sri Lanka is doing right (VNR) will take place in June European Union, to Belgium, now. In these efforts we have this year in New York. and to Luxembourg, before been able to leverage the sup- assuming the current position port of many Geneva based UN Could you tell us a bit about in Geneva in 2012. and other international organ- your own career in public isation dealing with develop- service, and is there any advice To a young diplomat, I would ment and humanitarian issues you would offer to young say that even though your such as - the UNCTAD, UNITAR, diplomats? job is primarily to serve your ITU, WHO, ILO, IOM, ICRC, I was one of a small band of national interest, one must WIPO and the World Economic people who helped set up tel- also always seek to reconcile Forum. As a country, we have evision in Sri Lanka in 1982. it with the broader global inter- also been mindful of ensuring At the time I was mainly a ests. These two things are not

22 | UN Special – Avril 2018 Choose from our 5 schools to study undergraduate and For further details contact us to discover our campuses, our postgraduate programmes in hospitality management programmes, and meet our students at open house days! combined with: 16TH - 17TH APRIL 2018 | 21IJ - 22ND MAY 2018

› International Business › Hotel Operations › Hotel & Design › Food & Beverage Mrs Rebecca Mars › Event Planning › Culinary Arts & E [email protected] › Resort & Spa Entrepreneurship T +41 21 966 47 28

UN Special – April 2018 | 23 War in Afghanistan timeline (2001–present) An ongoing conflict

2001 ’War on terror’ US-led invasion 2007 October – Following the September 11 attacks on the United March – President George W. Bush approves 8,200 more States, US-led bombing of Afghanistan begins, supported by United States troops for Iraq and Afghanistan March allies including the United Kingdom. Anti-Taliban Northern May – Afghanistan– Pakistan Skirmishes – Afghan soldiers Alliance forces enter Kabul shortly afterwards. attack Pakistani military outposts which they claim were December – is sworn in as head of an interim illegally built on Afghan soil. Pakistan’s military respond with power-sharing government. artillery fire on targets in Afghanistan. The United Nations authorized an International Security August – Opium production has soared to a record high, the UN Assistance Force (ISAF), with a mandate to help the Afghans reports. maintain security in Kabul and surrounding areas. 2008 2002 ’’ February – Kandahar bombing kills 100 people, the deadliest U.S., Canadian and Afghan forces begin “Operation Anaconda” suicide bombing of the war. against remaining Al-Qaeda and Taliban elements. June – President Karzai warns that Afghanistan will send troops into Pakistan to fight militants if Islamabad fails to take 2003 action against them. March – The United Nations Security Council votes July – Suicide bomb attack on Indian embassy in Kabul kills unanimously to extend the U.N. assistance mission in more than 50. Afghanistan for another year, enough time to see the country September – United States-Pakistan skirmishes. US President through to general elections. George Bush sends an extra 4,500 US troops to Afghanistan. April – The United Nations Children’s Fund warns that millions of Afghan women and children continues to face major health 2009 and nutrition problems, with maternal and infant mortality in New US approach. Number of soldiers peaks under Obama Afghanistan among the worst in the world March – US President Barack Obama unveils new strategy for August – NATO becomes involved, taking the helm at ISAF. Afghanistan and Pakistan. There is a surge in the number of Taliban and other armed groups regroup in their strongholds American soldiers in Afghanistan to around 68,000. and launch an insurgency against the government and ISAF. December – US President Obama raises the strength of US forces in Afghanistan to around 100,000. The objective is to 2004 Elections put brakes on the Taliban and to strengthen Afghan institutions. January – Loya Jirga adopts new constitution which provides for strong presidency. 2010 October – Afghan presidential election, 2004. In the country’s February – Nato-led forces launch major offensive, Operation first direct election, Hamid Karzai wins the presidency with Moshtarak, in bid to secure government control of southern 55.4% of the vote. Helmand province. July – The Sangin airstrike kills a large number of Afghan 2005 civilians mostly women and children in . June – Operation Red Wings results in the death of 19 Whistleblowing website Wikileaks releases 90,000 classified Americans and many Taliban fighters. US military documents relating to Afghanistan. December – Parliament opens with warlords and strongmen in November – Nato agrees plan to hand control of security to most of the seats. Afghan forces by end of 2014.

2006 2011 Bin Laden killed in Pakistan February – The Afghanistan Compact is developed, establishing January – President Karzai makes first official state visit a framework of international cooperation with Afghanistan. to Russia by an Afghan leader since the end of the Soviet October – Nato assumes responsibility for security across invasion in 1989. the whole of Afghanistan, taking command in the east from a April – Burning of Koran by a US pastor prompts country-wide US-led coalition force. protests in which foreign UN workers and several Afghans are November – the U.N. Security Council warns that Afghanistan killed. may become a failed state due to increased Taliban violence, May – The number one Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is growing illegal drug production and fragile state institutions killed by U.S. Navy SEALs in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 2012 2015 February – At least 30 people are killed in protests about the May – Taliban representatives and Afghan officials hold burning of copies of the Koran at the US Bagram airbase. US informal peace talks in Qatar. Both sides agree to continue the officials believed Taliban prisoners were using the books to talks at a later date. pass messages and that they were extremist texts not Korans. October – At the height of combat between armed groups and Two soldiers are also killed in reprisal attacks. the Afghan army, backed by NATO special forces, a US air raid May – Nato summit endorses the plan to withdraw foreign bombs a hospital run by Medecins Sans Frontiers (Doctors combat troops by the end of 2014. Without Borders) in northern Kunduz province, killing 42, July – Tokyo donor conference pledges $16bn in civilian aid including 24 patients and 14 members of the NGO. to Afghanistan up to 2016, with US, Japan, Germany and UK supplying bulk of funds. Afghanistan agrees to new conditions 2016 to counter corruption. Over one million Afghans are on the go during the year, either due to internal displacement because of the war, or are 2013 forced to repatriate by Pakistan, Iran and the European Union, The army of the United States continues to conduct missions according to the United Nations. throughout Afghanistan, began closing forward operating bases July – US President Barack Obama says 8,400 US troops will (FOB). remain in Afghanistan into 2017 in light of the “precarious February – President Karzai and Pakistan’s Asif Ali Zardari security situation”. NATO also agrees to maintain troop agree to work for an Afghan peace deal within six months after numbers and reiterates a funding pledge for local security talks hosted by Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron. forces until 2020.

2014 2017 End of combat operations January – A bomb attack in Kandahar kills six UAE diplomats. September – Afghanistan signs a bilateral security accord with April – The US military drops ’MOAB’ the largest non-nuclear the US and a similar text with NATO: 12,500 foreign soldiers, of bomb it has ever used in combat, hitting the Islamic State of which 9,800 are Americans, will remain in the country in 2015, Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group positions after the end of the NATO combat mission at the end of 2014. killing 96 fighters. October – The US and Britain end their combat operations in August – US President Donald Trump says he is sending more Afghanistan. troops to fight a resurgent Taliban.

2018 January – Bomb-laden ambulance explodes in Kabul, killing more than 100 people. It is one of ongoing attacks attributed to the Taliban.

US Troops in Afghanistan 100000 90000 80000 70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 WHO / OMS © PHOVEA/HUG Exploring precision global health at the Geneva Health Forum 2018

The Geneva Health Forum was created in 2006 NORIA MEZLEF, COORDINATOR GENEVA HEALTH FORUM by the Geneva University Hospitals and the The Geneva Health Forum is the forum of Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva. innovative practices in global health with the aim to showcase innovative, accessi- Every two years, the GHF attracts both Swiss ble and sustainable practices in order to and internationally renowned stakeholders, facilitate access and health equity; and to be a not-to-be-missed international event and bring together participants from all sectors where the major health issues, fed by field experiences, are challenged. (health, academia, politics, civil society and private sector professionals). The GHF promotes dynamic networking and partnership among various parties active in global health.

The 7th edition of the Geneva Health Forum: Precision Global Health in the digital age For the 2018 edition to be held from 10 to 12 April 2018 at the International Con- ference Center of Geneva (CICG) the GHF will explore the impact of the digital revo- lution in the health practices. The GHF will address emerging global health issues such as future pandemics and health security, antimicrobial resistance, non-communi- cable diseases, access and affordability to essential medicine and health equal- ity, chronic diseases, universal health

26 | UN Special – Avril 2018 GHF 2016 highlights 2018 Key Figures

1200 Participants expected 88 Innovations in the Global Health Lab 8 Plenary sessions 12 Exhibitors Stands 25 Parallel sessions participants 3 Photo Expositions 12 Workshops 6 Sponsored Lunch sessions 14 Experience sharing sessions 7 Side events satisfaction rate 420 Speakers 6 Hosted events 200 Posters countries

coverage, neglected tropical diseases, approach; the GHF fosters inclusive part- social sciences, new digital technologies to essential diagnostics with a special focus nerships among various parties active in data sciences. All sectors being represented on health initiatives from Central Asian global health, among them: Geneva Uni- from the field, university-based teaching countries, by inviting the Russian Feder- versity Hospitals, Geneva University, Swiss institutes, public and private sectors, inter- ation as guest of honor, and the Republic Development Cooperation, International national organisation and non-governmen- of Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic as Committee of the Red Cross, World Health tal organisation. Q special guests of the GHF 2018. Organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières, Swiss TPH, DNDi, FIND, Swiss Academy of This Edition of the GHF will mark the 100th Medical Science, Cité Internationale de la anniversary of the memory of the 1918 Solidarité, Haute Ecole de Santé de Genève, pandemic influenza victims. It will also International Federation of Pharmaceutical celebrate two anniversaries, the creation Manufactures and Associations, Graduate of WHO (1948) and the Alma Ata Decla- Institute of International and Development ration (1978). Studies, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, PATH, IUMSP, International Hos- The Global Health Lab pital Federation and The Swiss School of This year again the GHF will set up an Public Health (SSPH+). interactive and dynamic hub where par- ticipants will be able to try out new tech- The UN and the GHF nologies and products, it’s a way to present The United Nation, especially WHO, collectively innovation in the same field through its various departments has been and to create meaningful connections that strongly represented at each edition of the could lead to new ideas, new opportunities GHF. Speakers, moderators, session hosts and partnerships. The Global Health Lab from WHO have shaped parallel and ple- is also a space from which the scaling of nary sessions that have added value to good practices can emerge. GHF’s content. For the 2018 edition we will have the honor to welcome Dr. Tedros The Global Health Lab is divided into four Adhanom Ghebreyesus who will deliver a dedicated area, in each of them ten digital, keynote address at the opening ceremony sustainable and affordable innovations in that will take place on April 10th 2018 in health care from different partners will the evening. be presented to the public: Diagnostic & Treatment, Capacity Building & Commu- The United Nations staffs members are nity Empowerment, Digital optimization granted free admission to the Geneva of health system, Russian Pavilion. Health Forum by presenting their UN badges but should pre- register at contact@ An inclusive partnership ghf2018.org. The GHF is indeed organized in partner- Fermé le samedi midi et le dimanche ship with the key actors of global health Who should attend? present in Geneva and under the patronage For this 2018 edition the GHF wish to wel- Rue Du Bois-Melly 3 - 1205 Genève of the International Geneva Bureau. come the experience and showcase inno- Téléphone (0041) 022 321 70 05 E-mail: [email protected] vations from a large spectrum of global The complexity of global health practices health stakeholders from health profession- www.minotorsteakhouse.com requires an integrated and multi-sectoral als, specialists in health economics, ethics,

UN Special – April 2018 | 27 UNITED NATIONS / NATIONS UNIES The Defeat-NCD Partnership Universal NCD care. Everywhere. At anytime.

The smell of antiseptic and the sound of for people in lesser developed by unnecessary regulations or countries who did not have medicalization of what he con- echoed footsteps permeated throughout access to the modern medi- siders simple conditions to treat the ward. Though there had not been cines and healthcare that he with the help of trained health- was fortunate enough to have. care staff as opposed to doctors a war or natural disaster recently, as they are in short supply and Because of his work as a expensive. there were row upon row of amputees. humanitarian, his experi- The question was what had happened ences throughout the world By partnering with govern- and his own realities as a dia- ments, civil society, the private to these people? betic, Kapila and a few other sector and regular people, the likeminded people began the Defeat-NCD Partnership will journey of creating the Defeat- ensure that every country has NCD Partnership at the end of the medicines and equipment it 2017. The Defeat-NCD Part- needs to treat these diseases. He ALIYAH ESMAIL, THE DEFEAT-NCD prevention, surveillance and nership is addressing one of wants to start by making sure PARTNERSHIP standard setting then treat- the most significant global that the knowledge required For Dr. Mukesh Kapila, the ment of NCDs, has said that health problems of this age: to understand these diseases, fact that these amputations these diseases were the cause premature death, sickness, especially diabetes and hyper- were caused by diabetes was of 70% of deaths in 2015 and and disability from selected tension, is accessible so that shocking. And in that Tajik hos- that number is likely to rise1. non-communicable diseases, everyone with these conditions pital ward, a germ of an idea Approximately 48% of deaths primarily diabetes and hyper- or who is at risk of these con- was born. of people under the age of 70 tension. It aims to reduce ditions is better able to under- in 2015 in low- and middle-in- the burden on resource poor stand themselves and manage “The world was sleeping and come countries were attributed countries through increased their own risks. “You would call when we woke we realised that to NCDs2. The WHO also esti- access to a range of intercon- this democratizing, demystify- this is only going to get worse mates that between 2008 and nected essential services and ing and de-medicalizing these in the decades to come,” said 2030, NCDs will cost low- and resources, especially through conditions,” said Kapila. Kapila. middle-income countries about treatment. US $21 trillion due to illness On the same note, Kapila He said that there was no real and lost production3. These sta- “What I want to do is reduce explained that he wants to organised effort to deal with tistics, though mind numbing, the barriers and costs for peo- eliminate the barriers that exist any of the non-communicable are only the beginning as many ple with non-communicable for smaller nations. “One of the diseases (NCDs). Business as of these diseases are treatable diseases and we’re starting barriers we want to remove usual would not work, he said, and the complications or pre- with diabetes and hypertension is that the small countries because of the nature of these mature deaths they are causing because they are the biggest don’t have the financial clout/ conditions – including diabetes, are completely avoidable. causes of mortality and mor- purchasing power to buy the cardiovascular diseases, can- bidity from the NCDs taken essential medicines they need cer, and chronic respiratory “I consider that to be quite together. I want to make access cost effectively. We want to be diseases – which can cause outrageous in this day and to treatment and healthcare as able to combine the purchas- great personal, social and eco- age when we have all the easy as possible and as cheap ing powers of small countries nomic impact. That meant that knowledge and capacities to as possible so that everyone and make it easier and cheaper a new way of doing business be able to handle this,” said can afford modern treatments,” for them to access these medi- was required. Kapila. Adding that his own said Kapila. cines,” he said. personal reality as a Type 1 dia- The World Health Organization betic made him better able to For him it is a matter of look- And the earlier these conditions (WHO), which focuses more on understand what it must be like ing at all of the obstacles posed are detected through screening,

28 | UN Special – Avril 2018 By focusing on country realities “This is why I believe that while and humanitarian situations, promoting healthy lifestyles Kapila sees the Defeat-NCD and preventive approaches are Partnership acting as a hub of good and we should redouble a global network of knowledge our efforts, we must match it and capacities that will help by giving attention to the treat- to create a mass movement of ment of people who have these people who will be conscious of conditions and also identifying the risks that they face as NCD and treating those who have sufferers and are empowered the conditions and don’t know to do something about it them- it,” said Kapila. selves. He also sees a system- atic programme of investment He believes that giving voice from governments, civil society and allowing people with and the private sector to tackle diabetes and hypertension to

© Dr. Tuvshinjargal Chimed Tuvshinjargal © Dr. this enormous problem facing show leadership to both help Mukesh Kapila, Chief Executive of the Defeat-NCD Partnership, in Kenya with the world. “Though our focus is themselves and to help others the Red Cross and Ministry of Health investigating NCD treatment programmes very much at the country level, at risk of these conditions is a throughout the country. there are innovative methods very, very important part of the such as better forms of con- Defeat-NCD philosophy. the better the chances of liv- each nation to take responsi- nectivity, better information, ing a healthy life. Conversely, bility for itself, the Defeat-NCD maybe a new marketplace for Remembering the hospital visit if they are missed or detected Partnership will be making uni- drugs and supplies to reduce in Tajikistan, Kapila is hoping later and sufferers have com- versal healthcare more viable costs that could do a lot to to help people before they get plications or are at high risk in the future. reduce the barriers and costs to the position of having to have of complications they become that stop people from receiving amputations. more expensive to treat, which He also recognises that not all the care that they need,” said makes this an economically countries can support their Kapila. “I believe in making a start by responsible choice for govern- NCD sufferers: “we have to finding the right partners with ments everywhere. do something special for the He explained that many peo- a very strong ambition to scale most vulnerable people on ple talk about prevention – for up. It’s not that we need to do For Kapila, the best way to the planet. Those who are example why people do not grand things but we need to reduce complications for all poor are vulnerable of course stop smoking, do more exercise, do small things everywhere, in NCD sufferers is by focusing in every society and those who lose weight, or eat less sugar every place. It is a sum total of on country governments. These are living in crisis. There are and salt – which would be the small things, happening every- governments are participants a billion people in the world, healthiest lifestyle choice. How- where that will make the ulti- in the Sustainable Development which is a massive chunk, who ever, he still regularly struggles mate difference,” said Kapila. Q Goals (SDGs) and target 3.4 – are marooned in a crisis. Either with this good advice everyday which calls for the reduction by they are chronically in a crisis and others must realise, with 1 http://www.who.int/gho/ncd/ mortality_morbidity/en/ one-third of pre-mature mor- – their countries are in tur- compassion, that sometimes 2 http://www.who.int/gho/ncd/ tality from NCDs through pre- moil – or they are going into or it is very difficult to put this mortality_morbidity/ncd_premature/ vention and treatment – needs recovering from a crisis,” said good advice into practice. For en/ the systematic tackling of con- Kapila, adding that not all the the poorer populations, who 3 http://www.who.int/bulletin/ straints around NCD treatment. people who suffer from these have fewer choices and greater volumes/94/3/15-156869/en/ By supporting governments conditions will survive or they stress, living and eating health- through a sustainable business will suffer complications and ily or the environment in which model that is less about foreign disabilities, which lowers their they live is not necessarily a aid and more about incentivis- chances of making it through reality they can change. ing the community along with the crisis.

Un lieu hors du commun, climat hors du commun Votre restaurant au bord du lac - Menus au choix à midi du lundi au vendredi - Cuisine du terroir Ouvert 7/7 - Tél. 41 (0)22 774 10 06 - www.creuxdegenthod.com

UN Special – April 2018 | 29 WHO / OMS Alternative working arrangements in the UN common system

Why should we utilize GEMMA VESTAL1, TREVOR GRIFFIS, AND CAROLINE Technological Innovations makes alternative SOUTHARD2 working arrangements possible alternative working Alternative working arrangements are crit- Digital technology provides a feasible alter- arrangements and what ical in promoting a healthy work-life bal- native to working onsite. Videoconferences ance and improving productivity. Flexible allow staff to communicate regardless of are their potential workplace policies are a modern-day man- their locations and offer screen sharing agement approach that would ultimately options. Programs like Google Drive and benefits to the workplace? enable staff to achieve peak performance. Microsoft Office 365 permit co-workers to As external stressors can detract from staff collaborate on documents, slide decks, and productivity, arrangements to make work- spreadsheets simultaneously. days and work locations more negotiable may drive staff to be increasingly focused Types of alternative working arrangements and efficient. Compressed working week policies allow staff to add on extra hours to normal work Staff frequently face family demands or days and work one day less in a 2-week issues when they are at work. A staff mem- period. Essentially, this redistribution of ber may be responsible for taking someone normal working hours allows staff mem- in their family who is sick to a doctor’s bers, every other week, to work only four appointment. days, freeing time for family or leisure. Teleworking arrangements let staff work Unforeseen emergencies like this greatly via email, phone calls, and videoconfer- conflict with fixed and non-negotiable ences. Ad hoc teleworking relies on these working schedules. In contrast, a staff arrangements infrequently and in specific member who benefits from flexible working contexts such as projects that require extra arrangements can deal with, and adjust to, hours offsite. Part-time arrangements give the unpredictable more quickly and appro- staff the opportunity to work fewer hours a priately, assured that he or she can com- week, while job-sharing arranges for two pensate for the missed hours at another part-time staff members to split one full- time within that 24-hour period. Without time position. this ability, staff may fall behind in their work and face negative consequences, “Hot-desking” is a practice in which lim- causing stress and hindering their pro- ited, shared supply of workspaces prompt fessional development. staff to alternate who works on and offsite. This could help conserve valuable space Flexible policies can, likewise, ensure in an office, cut costs and keep the office safety in emergencies. Extreme weather atmosphere calmer. This is also feasible conditions can endanger those commut- given that most staff go on duty travel a ing to work. Flexible work arrangements significant number of days a year. would give staff the ability to work from home instead, so an entire work day Technology and these work alternatives is not lost because of uncontrollable pose questions challenging conventional circumstances. workplace arrangements. With digital access outside of the office, why should Alternative working arrangements could staff have to work onsite every day? Which also be beneficial in lessening the stress alternatives are best for a certain organ- from lengthy commutes. Working from ization’s work? To what extent do these home and eliminating this commute for programmes hold staff accountable for certain days will reduce stress from traffic their responsibilities? These questions and time lost to travel, as well as fossil fuel must be considered in the context of each emissions and consumption. organization, but potential benefits of these

30 | UN Special – Avril 2018 1) incentives for staff to complete quality work, 2) a more manageable work-life bal- ance, and 3) a positive work atmosphere.

Conclusions and recommendations The data gathered by the FICSA survey show that within the UN common system there exists a widespread variability in the extent of alternative work arrangements. Many responses discuss how teleworking and leave are circumstantial, not standard- ized. We suggest that a more standardized approach ensuring flexible arrangements for all would facilitate a healthy work-life balance while improving productivity and workplace environment across the organ- izations. These arrangements can be eas- technologies and arrangements can cer- specific and predetermined stipulations. ily actualized through extending the use tainly extend to a multitude of workplace Duration varied from one day a week, three of technology already employed by these environments. days a week and two days a month. For organizations. Technology can certainly the respondent from the private sector, never replace the value of face-to-face Potential downside their responses did not deviate significantly interaction for professional purposes, but Technology provides an incredibly conven- from the average UN answers. However, its application provides viable alternatives ient alternative to in-office work completion the only telling difference was that their to onsite work that enable more flexible and communication, but heavier reliance organization offers regular teleworking working arrangements. FICSA aims to con- on virtual work may reduce the account- arrangements. vey that implementing standardized flexible ability that employees must maintain in work arrangement policies in the UN com- order to be as productive as possible. This Results of whether an organization pro- mon system is a way to allow work, per- can also interfere with the building of a vided a rest period following duty travel sonal life, and the unpredictable to coexist workplace community, and possibly make showed great variability. Teleworking nego- more smoothly for its staff, while ensuring a staff member feel isolated, which could tiations could facilitate for periods of time the delivery of quality work products. Q affect morale and hinder individual and when staff would like to rest post-travel team productivity. but still finish work obligations in a more 1 WHO staff member who is currently released to accommodating way. serve as the General Secretary of the Federation of FICSA survey and results International Civil Servants’ Associations (FICSA). In October of 2017, the Federation of The survey found diverse types and dura- 2 Boston College Students serving as FICSA interns. International Civil Servants’ Associations tions of leave. Maternity leave ranged 3 One private sector staff member agreed to also fill (FICSA) released an alternative working vastly from eight weeks to up to twen- out the survey. arrangements survey to staff associations ty-four weeks, a significant gap that could 4 Organizations that completed the survey: BIPM, Caterpillar, CERN, ESO, EUMETSAT, FAO, IAEA, IARC, 3 and unions of international organizations be corrected by a standard length of leave. ICAO, ICTP, IDLO, IFAD, IMO, IOM, IOPCF, IPU, ITER, ITU, in order to understand how they have Paid study-leave is useful for staff looking OAS, PAHO, SCBD, UN, UN Geneva, UNFCCC, UNIDO, implemented alternative working arrange- to undertake courses in order to become UNWTO, WHO/EURO, WHO/WPRO, WIPO, and WMO. ments. We received responses from 29 a greater asset in their organization and international governmental organizations, have more potential for promotion. including one private sector organization.4 Global Mobility Solutions Furthermore, 72% of respondents Approximately 93% of the survey partici- answered that their organizations do not pants responded that they do have flexible offer childcare. This workplace benefit hour arrangements. To monitor these hours would alleviate the stress of working par- and hold staff accountable, some organiza- ents with children younger than school age tions utilize badging and clocking systems, and especially enable women who want to but most mainly employ trust. The dura- stay in their positions following the birth Pelichet moves the people who move the world. tion of teleworking arrangements differs of a child. between organizations: approximately 56% of surveyed staff could not telework outside Additionally, nearly half of the organiza- their duty station and about 44% of staff tions (48%) had not implemented any ini- RESIDENTIAL STORAGE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL could. Some teleworking policies allow for tiatives to address work-life balance. The negotiations based on circumstances and value of these types of initiatives should be Tel. +41 22 827 80 00 | E-mail. [email protected] project duration, while others maintained emphasized to organizations, as they create PELICHET NLC SA – Chemin Grenet 25 – 1214 VERNIER – www.pelichet.ch

UN Special – April 2018 | 31 UNITED NATIONS / NATIONS UNIES Simultaneous interpretation

The smooth running of a meeting depends on good communication between all the participants. The interpreters sitting in a booth behind the glass are among an army of professionals who facilitate this process.

ALMA BARGHOUT1, MÓNICA VARELA faithful and accurate interpre- corpus of speeches delivered job to the highest professional GARCÍA2, LUCIA RUIZ3 tation into the Target Language, at the Human Rights Council. standards. It is worth mentioning that in i.e. the language into which s/ This first analysis revealed an 2016 alone, the Interpretation he works. average delivery rate of 140 Recommendations to delegates Service at the United Nations wpm whilst as indicated above For a delegate to be understood Office at Geneva serviced more However, nowadays many con- the recommended rate is 100- by the audience, which is the than 3,000 meetings with straints are forcing speakers 130 wpm. The second norming ultimate goal of interpretation, interpretation into two to six to deliver their statements at experiment conducted on the it is important for speakers not official languages of the UN. much faster speeds. A state- Universal Periodic Review in to forget that they are inter- Simultaneous Interpretation ment that would need 5 min- 2016 revealed an average of preted. Multilingualism is an is a highly complex cognitive utes to be delivered adequately 162 wpm. This proved the gen- important acquis at the UN process which aims to deliver is being read in 2 minutes in eral feeling of interpreters that and when delivering statements a complete and accurate rendi- that delegates have less time speed of delivery is increasing. at high speed this principle is tion of the original message in allotted to give their speeches. One of the sampled statements being jeopardized. real time. There is a myriad of This is compounded by the fact was as high as 193 wpm. factors that can influence the that when a delegate takes the Speaking or reading at a rea- process and when professional floor, s/he is often reading a At such excessive speeds, even sonable pace and verbalizing UN interpreters open their complex, dense and carefully the audience in the room, the statements goes a long way microphones, they are ready drafted statement. Instead of listening to the floor in the in multilingual communication to face the unknown. The sub- delivering free impromptu original language, can some- with interpretation. Q ject matter can of course be a speeches, statements are read times miss the substance of major challenge, but with expe- out. In a read statement, there the message. The interpreters, 1 Senior Interpreter, Arabic Booth (UNOG) rience and good preparation, are almost no hesitations, no whilst trying to cope with the 2 Chief, Spanish Booth (UNOG) an interpreter can rise to the redundancies and, depending challenge, feel a professional challenge of a highly sensitive on the speaker, sometimes no frustration since they are pre- 3 Professor and researcher at FTI, University of Geneva and political meeting or a very intonations. This increases the vented from performing the specialized one. Speakers are load on the processing capac- also very different from one ity of the interpreter and can another, different languages, influence the quality of the Éducation / Enseignement accents, articulation, tone and interpretation. intonation. However, there is one factor that has become a To get a more accurate view on major challenge to interpreters: the speed of delivery at UNOG SUMMER FRENCH COURSES 2018 the speed of delivery. and in the context of an aca-

demic research project, two 3 WEEK SUMMER 6 WEEK SUMMER UNIVERSITY How fast is fast? COURSES FOR COURSES PREPARATORY norming experiments to cal- ALL LEVELS FOR ALL LEVELS COURSE FOR LEVELS The recommended speed of culate the real delivery rate From 25 June to 24 August From 16 July to 24 August B2 AND C1 (3 separate sessions) From 16 July to 24 August delivery in literature and by were conducted by the authors,

AIIC (Association Internation- two UN Staff interpreters and FOR PROGRAMMES AND INFORMATION ale des interprètes de con- a researcher from the Uni- Cours d’été de français, Uni Bastions, 5 rue De-Candolle, CH-1211 Genève 4 Tel. : +41 22 379 74 34 | Email : [email protected] | www.fle.unige.ch férence) is about 100 to 130 versity of Geneva. A norming words per minute (wpm). This experiment establishes the is the speed at which an inter- baseline in research. The first preter can properly process norming experiment was con- the information and deliver a ducted in 2012 to analyze a

32 | UN Special – Avril 2018 UNITED NATIONS / NATIONS UNIES Knowledge and Learning Commons

Change ahead – The United Nations training in a different way, not our clients’ interests and help necessarily in the classroom. them achieve their aims. The Library and the Centre for Learning The first solution was to almost second similarity is that we deal and Multilingualism will soon be united abandon face-to-face learning with substance, not processes. and to replace it with e-learn- A librarian trains a person how under one roof in the Knowledge and ing, as it was called at the time. to access knowledge – that is Learning Commons. It was hoped that e-learning where the learning comes in. would be a lot cheaper and I’m excited to see what the more effective than face-to- chemical reaction will be when face learning. I think this was we put the two together. I think CRISTINA GIORDANO technology can improve the a bit of an overreaction, from it will be positive: not destruc- AND SARAH JORDAN, UNOG way we store, organize and which we are now distancing tive, but constructive. Geneti- Cristina Giordano and Sarah distribute knowledge. This is an ourselves. If we were a field- cally speaking, we are cousins! Jordan interview their respec- interesting and exciting pros- based entity, it would probably tive bosses – Francesco Pisano, pect for every librarian – what be different for us at the Cen- TN – I remember bumping into Director of the United Nations can they do to improve the ser- tre. Here in Geneva, though, Francesco shortly after we first Library, and Thomas Neufing, vice they give to their clients? we have all our clients on our met on the UN Leaders’ Pro- Chief of the Centre for Learn- The United Nations Library is doorstep and social interaction gramme. It must be about a ing and Multilingualism (CLM) a reputable institution, which is essential. Space is therefore year ago. We started talking on their vision for this future started life within the League of very important to us. We want about the Strategic Heritage venture. Nations. Turning 100 is some- to foster informal learning and Plan (SHP) and the idea of thing we are very proud of. The make learning available to our co-location was born. CG – After years of debate plan now is to look forward to clients in a less rigid, more con- and in spite of technological the next 100 years, and that is vivial way. People have less time FP – Yes, the idea has gained advances, it is now clear that where the notion of knowledge and cannot always attend long momentum very quickly. The libraries are not dead! What is and learning comes into play. sessions at fixed dates. Bite- Palais is being renovated in the clear though is that they will sized learning is the buzzword context of the SHP. But there have to change. The United SJ – And what about the Centre of the day! Like the Library, to is also the “New Work” factor. Nations Library will be 100 next for Learning and Multilingual- remain stagnant and continue Given the accelerators in our year. How do you see the future? ism? We are not 100 years old, to do business as we did in the respective work domains, I FP – As you say, there was a but is training changing too? past is no longer an option. think it is logical to bring our time when it was thought that TN – Indeed it is. We are the services together so that our technology would make librar- “new kids on the block” com- CG – So what are the factors customers can access learning ies obsolete. This is clearly no pared to the Library, but are no that bring the Library, knowl- and knowledge in one place on longer the case and technology longer in our infancy. In the last edge and learning together? the UN Campus. I read in a spe- is not perceived as a threat. two decades, diminishing funds FP – In my opinion, we have cialized management magazine Libraries are turning digital and the dispersed location of two fundamental linkages. First, the other day that in Europe and the question today is how staff has required us to deliver we are client-driven. We act in only 11% of people work alone

SWISS "JFK Swiss Outdoor Camp OUTDOOROUTDOOTDOOR is about challenges, about CAMP succeeding and exploring StartStart expexploringloring nownow!!!!!! for children of 6 to 13 years old.old. It’sIt’t’s aboutabout learninglearning andand teachingteaching withwiwithth naturenanatuturere butbut mommostostst ofof all,all, it’sit’s aboutabout living." A summer camp like no other www.swissoutdoorcamp.chw.swissoutdoorcamp.ch

UN Special – April 2018 | 33 arrive at the UN in Geneva, they will find the same con- figuration here – everything in one place. But I can see it from the point of view of the Organization too. Thomas and I are actually doing what the Director-General is encour- aging the Organization to do. We are putting the narrative into action – walking the talk as they say. Working across silos, collaborating, inventing new things, doing more with less… I’m delighted that the Director-General and Clemens Adams are supporting this ini- tiative. The contrary would have been a cold shower.

CG – So what are the next

© Cristina Giordano steps? Meant to be. FP – We want to keep it simple because good ideas don’t need or together in an office with ideas to our Management. The has such an aura. It’s so much to be complicated. We have dis- four walls – so today, we are commons is a solution based on better than the facilities we cussed the project within both part of a shrinking minority. the evolution of libraries and have now. We share the same teams. The next step is to bring learning centres. It has worked clientele – not just staff mem- the teams together. The prem- SJ – Do you have any examples of for others and we’re convinced bers, but member states and ise is that co-locating two sim- other organizations or structures that it will work for us too. delegates. It will be easier for ilar teams will have beneficial that have gone through a similar our 3,000 language students effects. We are going to select process with a similar result? TN – It’s true that the model to find all our services in one a number of ideas proposed by FP – Many. At the beginning, has been tested and developed location. They will bring new various team members. We will when Thomas and I discussed in other areas. However, in our life to it – a kind of reenergiz- test them in 2018 and in 2019 our strategy, we wanted to keep UN context, it is something of ing impetus for an institution we’ll be making them available away from long reinventing a pilot. During my assignment that is 100 years old! When I to everyone in the Commons in processes such as you find at with OHRM at UN Headquarters see the newly renovated events Building B. the UN and identify instead in 2014-2015, I could already room that we could use for joint winning ideas that have already see the potential for collabo- events – International Lan- SJ – So clients will be informed worked outside the Organiza- ration between the learning guage Days for example – it is of pilot courses and participate tion. That is how we came upon team and the Dag Hammarsk- just fantastic. Michael Møller, in them? Then based on ongoing the idea of the Commons. There jöld Library. The idea, however, our Director-General, the SDG feedback on what they liked and are two types of commons: could not materialize because 17 partnerships and the Chief didn’t like, new products will be those adopted by large libraries of the high turnover of relevant Executive Board (CEB) leader- added to the catalogue? known as knowledge commons, actors. So we are the pioneers ship framework are all calling FP – Yes – what everyone is and those of universities and in trying to create a knowledge for cooperation and a more talking about today is co-cre- high schools, called learning and learning commons in the horizontal way of working – so ation. We are going to try this commons. Our challenge is to UN context. At CLM, we have now is the time to do it. using the skills of trainers and try and combine the two and always wanted to be closer to the skills of knowledge experts. find the right mix of knowledge the safeguards of knowledge the FP – Co-location has two Together we have the content and learning. Notable examples Library represents and to tap advantages to my eyes. If you and the instructional designers are Harvard University Law into its huge reservoir. However, look at it through the eyes of who make it digestible for the School and the public library the 500 metres or so that has a hypothetical P2 who grad- learner. The learners are aware in Chicago, but there are many separated us to date has meant uates from Harvard Law of their requirements and know others in the United States, Ger- that this has not been possible. School and is recruited by where the gaps are. We have many, France and Switzerland. the UN, this person has stud- 1.7 million books in the Library. We recruited a researcher last SJ – So this project hinges on ied in the commons there, I would say that the odds of us year to help us study existing co-location? has met librarians, but also not being able to find some- examples and our requirements TN – Absolutely. The Library training experts or a coach – thing on a particular learning so that we could present our is a beautiful building and all in one location. Once they requirement are close to zero.

34 | UN Special – Avril 2018 With the help of CLM experts the Library tour. We also look we can match the knowledge forward to using the cinema to the learners’ requirements. – the beautiful Kazakh Room In most cases, we should have – as we did for International a perfect combination. Mother Language Day when we screened a film on Quechua. We SJ – What about the resources hope to show films in all six to do all this? Is it going to be UN languages and to extend part of the SHP? Is there going our cultural offering to add to to be a budget for this? all that the Library is already FP – Of course there’s a large doing. budget for this – it is the cur- rent budget. We are paid to run FP – I think there will be a the Library and CLM is paid to snowball effect. People will organize courses. So the only feel empowered when they © UNOG Library/A. Hernandez The library building. cost will be that of moving come to the B building – to offices. The whole building is the Commons – not only the going to be in upheaval so we Library – to learn, to read or will be more learning food for SJ – It’s going to move forward thought that now was a good consult records, to attend a more people so we will add pretty fast then? time to go ahead. If the SHP cultural event… We want more more tables in the restaurant… FP – Our dream is that in one architects have to modify the people to discover the Library year from now, the UN top B building, it might as well be and to enjoy it. It will be good TN – Spouses already follow management will see this as an in accordance with our require- for us, but also for the Palais our language courses and example and tell other parts of ments. And they are open to des Nations and the mission teenagers come to the HIV the Secretariat: “They did it – discussing this with us. of the UN in Geneva because prevention programme. We are why can’t you?” We have gone more people will be talking already a learning centre not forward very quickly – from the TN – And the alternative would about us – about knowledge only for the UN community, but thinking and dreaming stage, to have been for us to have a new and multilingualism. beyond. One thing I would like getting Management approval, building for CLM. Our building to say is that we’re not talking to liberating the office space, is no longer fit for purpose and SJ – Will the Commons seek to about a merger here. Both the also thanks to the collabora- there are many issues about its attract new categories of users Library and CLM will continue tion we have received from location that mean that it is not – young people and retirees, for to run their core businesses. Administration and technical sustainable. A brand new train- example? But the chemical reaction that central services. When the cli- ing centre would have been a FP – We already attract many Francesco mentioned earlier ents arrive, the rest will happen heavy investment for the UN. retirees and a lot of external will create something new, naturally. You will see! Q The Knowledge and Learning researchers come here too. something better with more Commons is a cost-effective Working together will allow to offer than we have now. We solution for the Organization. us to welcome more peo- are not doing this for rewards, We do, in fact already offer ple. We are open to external we are doing this because we certain courses on the Library researchers, but we are not a believe in the potential, but we premises – for newcomers for public library. Ours is a differ- do hope to stimulate others to example. We combine it with ent mission. With CLM, there explore synergies too.

Éducation / Enseignement

UN Special – April 2018 | 35 UNITED NATIONS / NATIONS UNIES UN Photo/Matija Potocnik Un délicieux buffet – dont un impressionnant assortiment de fromages – servi par les traductrices françaises du service de traduction. Celebrating Multilingualism – Language Days at UNOG Journée de la langue française

À l’occasion de la Journée ANNE FASSOTTE, FABIENNE PAIRON, Le Centre de formation et de BLANDINE LEGARDEUR, OLGA multilinguisme de l’ONUG internationale de la francophonie, la MARKIDES (CFM) a présenté les résultats Division de la gestion des conférences Par un heureux hasard, cette d’un concours d’écriture – une journée coïncidait avec la célé- première – organisé pour ses a organisé pour la première, avec la bration de la Journée interna- étudiants de français. Le texte participation du Centre de formation tionale du bonheur. Et il est vrai devait contenir dix mots repré- que la langue française, pour sentatifs de la francophonie et de multilinguisme (CFM) et en ses locuteurs comme pour les (accent, bagou, griot, jactance, personnes qui l’apprennent, est ohé, placoter, susurrer, truculent, partenariat avec l’Organisation une matière première réjouis- voix, volubile) et ne pas dépasser internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), sante, qui se prête à tous les 100 mots. Le genre était libre usages. – dialogue, poésie, prose, petite la Journée de la langue française. annonce, circulaire, discours, Et c’est son aspect ludique vacance de poste, mémo, cour- qui a été mis à l’honneur lors riel, lettre… tout était permis ! de cette Journée. Un quiz sur les régionalismes nous a par Cinq textes ont été primés. exemple appris qu’en Belgique, Nous vous en livrons deux « avoir un œuf à peler avec ci-dessous. quelqu’un » signifie avoir un compte à régler. Les partici- 1er prix pants ont ensuite été régalés (par Gregg Caporaso, en cours d’un texte humoristique plein de français de niveau 4) d’autodérision qui présente divers accents comme des Le Griot « calamités » ou des « menaces « Ohé, Griot ! » crient les petits pandémiques » contre lesquelles enfants du village au vieil on pourrait aller jusqu’à mettre homme, au point des vaccins. « Vous, qui êtes le gardien de

36 | UN Special – Avril 2018 ou ont suivi le cours « Regards permettait d’entendre des sur le monde francophone » volontaires francophones et non proposé au CFM. Leurs textes francophones s’essayer à des peuvent être lus sur le site du vire-langues, exercices de pro- CFM learning.unog.ch nonciation aussi ludiques que difficiles, du type de celui-ci : Le Club de théâtre des Nations « Ah ! Pourquoi Pépita sans Unies a également présenté une répit m’épies tu ? Dans le puits, scène de sa dernière création, Pépita, pourquoi te tapis-tu ? Tu « L’île de la paix », mettant en m’épies sans pitié, c’est piteux évidence, en grossissant le trait, de m’épier. De m’épier, Pépita, les travers tragi-comiques de la ne peux-tu te passer ? ». langue onusienne et managériale. Ce projet était intitulé « Bafouil- UN Photo/Matija Potocnik Salle comble pour « L’île de la paix ». Finalement un totem interac- lera, bafouillera pas ». Et tif, projet conjoint du Service vous, pourriez-vous pronon- notre histoire et de nos secrets, Elle d’interprétation et du Service cer ce texte rapidement sans Vous, aux yeux auxquels per- Elle, c’est une voix de velours de la production et de l’appui, bafouiller ? Q sonne n’échappe, avec des accents différents mais Ni au bagou de votre langue toujours élégants. Elle, voyage volubile, partout dans le monde à la Racontez-nous un conte de manière d’un griot truculent. notre village ! Haute en couleurs, elle aime English Language Day Comme le petit oiseau qui placoter et se faire des amis. susurre à nos oreilles, Certains la trouvent bavarde SARAH JORDAN Comme le singe rusé dans voire volubile, mais moi, je If, unfortunately, you missed 4.00 p.m. The English language l’arbre, votre seul rival l’admire comme elle est. French Language Day, do not will be showcased through the Dans l’art de placoter, La première fois que je l’ai despair, English Language Day reading of excerpts from Nobel Divertissez-nous avec votre rencontrée, elle m’a interpel- awaits you on 23 April! The prize-winning authors and a jactance, lée par un « Ohé » et c’est de event, entitled “English: A Nobel Nobel-themed quiz. Watch out Chantez-nous une ballade tru- cette manière que nous nous Language” will be hosted by the for the UNOG Broadcast nearer culente avec la voix de votre sommes liées. D’abord susurré Division of Conference Manage- the day. In it, you will find full luth puis parlé, son bagou et sa ment (DCM), in cooperation with details of the programme of Et les accents de nos ancêtres jacquetance m’ont toujours the UNOG Library and the UNOG activities. perdus, impressionnée et c’est pour Centre for Learning and Multi- Laissez-nous connaître qui ça que je l’ai aimée, Elle. lingualism (CLM). The Remains Language days are also planned nous sommes ! » Elle, ma Langue Française. of the Day, the film adaptation for Chinese in April, Russian in of Kazuo Ishiguro’s eponymous June, Spanish in October and Prix hors concours Les trois autres lauréats, Tiziana novel, will be screened from 12 Arabic in December. Students (par Evgenia Alexeeva-Viel, Zugliano (deuxième prix), Shin noon to 2.15 p.m. followed by studying these languages at professeur de russe au CLM, Ohinata et Jianjun Chen (troi- afternoon tea (with scones and CLM will be informed of events non francophone) sième prix ex-aequo) suivent cucumber sandwiches) from planned by their teachers. Q

Éducation / Enseignement

PRIMAIRE - SECONDAIRE - BACCALAURÉAT 2 Campus Genève/Mies dès 9 ans EXTERNAT-INTERNAT Pour vos enfants de 3 à 12 ans Une pédagogie qui donne du sens aux apprentissages En français et en anglais Horaire continu de 8 h à 15 h 30 • Programmes officiels genevois et français • Cadre familial et international • Aide quotidienne aux devoirs et cours de soutien • Nombreuses activités (théâtre, sports, robotique, …) Possibilité « after school activities » jusqu’à 18 h 00

PORTES OUVERTES SAMEDI 28 AVRIL 2018 de 10 h à 15 h Avenue Sécheron 11 Chemin du Triangle 9 COURS D’ÉTÉ du 9 au 27 juillet 2018 • Cours intensifs de langues • Mise à niveau en français et math 1202 Genève 1295 Mies Tél. 022 733 54 33 Tél. 022 755 21 24 www.decouverte.ch 21, avenue Eugène-Pittard • 1206 Genève • T 022 703 51 20 www.lycee-topffer.ch

UN Special – April 2018 | 37 ARTS & CULTURE Tradition: a museum object?

This article is a reflection on my experiences in learning musical traditions in four cultures: Latin America, Japan, India and Europe. After describing what I learned through the different approaches to music, I suggest that music is an effective educational tool to develop one’s whole personality.

Dr. LUIS DE LA CALLE 1 sensibility, way of thinking, and state of I was born in Peru, where at age five, I the soul – even one’s moral character. learned to play Latin folk music on the Vaishnava songs were written by schol- quena (Andean end-blown flute) and the arly artists/poets and possess great literary siku (Andean pan flute). I learned through value, which made them widely popular. orality: observing, listening and imitating. Classical Bengali Art: Krishna playing on his flute. At age fourteen, I was considered the best After being in India, my curiosity drew performer in Peru by the Ministry of Edu- me to study the European transverse flute cation. I was taught that the original char- at a music conservatory in Denmark. The acter of the quena, which is 5000 years change was radical. I discovered fidelity to old, is an opening where the soul gives the writing and reading scores, or normative most talented flutists— for performing with best of oneself; if the player lacks a culti- knowledge. and inventing this instrument. vated character, the expression of sound will be poor. Then, having the desire to integrate the After all these experiences, I asked myself, contributions from these four music cul- What is a tradition? To answer this ques- When I was fifteen, a Japanese actor tures, I invented a flute: thequena ’s head- tion, I approached the University of heard my solo concert and proposed that joint connected to the transverse flute’s Geneva in Switzerland and did a Ph.D. I further my career in Japan. I became a body. Based on this invention, I obtained in the Sciences of Education. During my disciple of the Noh Theatre Master Hideo a Bachelor’s degree as a soloist and two studies, I realized that in the oral tradi- Kanze. As the director of my concerts, he Masters degrees in education at Lund Uni- tions from the three ancestral cultures I taught me the inner strength to master versity in Sweden. Flute associations in have mentioned, there are two different the instrument. This took more than sim- Sweden, America, the UK and Australia forms of transmission practices, because of ply perfecting a technique and providing have recognized me as one of the world’s two approaches: the ethno-musicological entertainment. He taught me about the ritualization in Japanese music, which is a meditation on the unity of the mind, the Éducation / Enseignement flute and the body.

After I had been in Japan for five years, he LESS VALEURS ETHIQUESE sent me to India. For seven years I studied CONSTRUISENT UNE EDUCATION DURABLE Vedic philosophy and Vaishnava music, an AUTONOMIE.CONFIANCE. influential culture in the evolution of the RESPONSABILITE Indian musical tradition. I was taught that NOS PORTES OUVERTES performing music is understood as yoga: LE 18 AVRIL DèS 12 heures philosophy and practice in which the mind is controlled and “yoked” with the Absolute and the Divinity. Vaishnava music has a lesl options d'un bac général system of rhythms (talas) and romantic ET NOS OPTIONS, BACCALAURéAT ARTISTIQUE, melodic scales (ragas). The effects of these Création Litteraire, préparation aux grandes écoles sounds and their precise repetition at exact Journalisme, Musique, Art-photo-cinema -journalisme étude Sport. intervals awakens a person’s higher lev- MUTUELLE D'ETUDES SECONDAIRES N.A.B.A.B els of consciousness by acting upon the M.E.S. 7 bis bd CARL-VOGT 7bis rue du VIEUX-BILLARD 1205 GENEVE 022.741.00.01 www.ecolemes.ch 1205 GENEVE 022.320.67.89 internal personality and transforming its

38 | UN Special – Avril 2018 © UNE /National University of Education "Enrique Guzman y Valle" © ULuis De La Calle Dr. Luis De La Calle and professors from the National University make a toast after Dr. Luis De La Calle with his flute invention «The De the Honorary Doctorate award ceremony at the Parliament of Peru. La Calle quena fluteTM», which attaches the Inca’s flute (quena) headjoint to the European transverse flute.

approach and the popular/folk music alive precisely because of certain charac- • “Learn to speak before reading”: first approach. The ethno-musicologist seeks teristics of its transmission practices. make music and only then understand to transmit a traditional way of performing how it is made. In the conservatories I (sonority) in a certain culture through a I compared these characteristics with the frequented, the teacher begins with the scientific discourse. The popular/folk music practices I used as a student at Sweden’s systematic work of playing: breathing, approach is a practice that combines ele- Music Conservatory: vibrato, etc. (This is called the elemen- ments of the traditional music with an • The use of the cultural meanings of an tarisation of knowledge.) aesthetic taste coming from elements of ancestral tradition, along with scientific Western European music; this is charac- principles (especially in India), enhances In summary, while reflecting on the prac- terised by a national and political identity, the performer’s musical expression, tices of transmission in oral traditions, with the “show” as a dimension. whereas in the conservatories, there is I argued that the activities of a person, a less scientific approach. including one’s musical activity, should be These differences led me to conclude that • The use of dance, wherein the instrumen- oriented to the elevation of human con- a tradition is a historical construct. It is not talist’s steps are synchronised with the sciousness. The music of these ancestral pure nor is it a museum object. It is alive rhythm of the melody, is a simultaneous cultures could be a model for society today, and in constant transformation. Then what double function by the agent, who is the wherein the formation of an individual’s do we learn from the two approaches? instrumentalist and the dancer. In the character comes first and then the per- We learn that the oral tradition of these music conservatories, the instrumental- formance of other activities. In this case, ancestral cultures manifests something ists do not dance. music specifically could be a tool to educate a person about human values and spiritual principles. Life is an art to live, and a work of art is the expression of our personality as a whole, of our sensibility and ability. Q

1 Dr. Luis Alberto De La Calle Aramburú – member of the Research Team in Didactic of Arts and Movement (DAM) at the Faculty of Sciences of Education at the University of Geneva – Professor of Flute at the Music Faculty at the International School of Geneva – Sony Music Recording Artist. [email protected]

UN Special – April 2018 | 39 ARTS & CULTURE © Claude Maillard L’une des plus vénérées, la pagode Bawgyo est de toute beauté.

Myanmar (Birmanie partie 4/4) Pagodes, temples et monastères

Bien éloignée de ses voisins absorbés le couinement du train, lui aussi l’aumône auprès des badauds digne de l’empire colonial bri- et des marchands. Pour les par la modernité, Myanmar est un tannique victorien, nous font Birmans, c’est une bonne enchantement pour le voyageur. craindre le pire. Arrivés à bon action. En échange, ils reçoivent port, nous nous remettrons de la bénédiction des moines. Le pays est un canevas tissé au fil des nos émotions en parcourant la campagne jusqu’à la localité C’est en pirogue, depuis notre royaumes bouddhistes et d’un relief de Nam San habitée par une bungalow blotti sur une rive sans pareil, entre l’océan Indien et les ethnie palaung. Villageois et de la rivière Dokhtawaddy, que moines nous feront un accueil nous irons à la découverte de la contreforts de l’Himalaya. des plus chaleureux. campagne environnante, avec ses rizières et ses villages où Des moines vénérés le temps semble s’être arrêté CLAUDE MAILLARD mastodonte d’acier doit en effet Chaque birman deviendra au siècle passé. Ici le travail Revigorés par notre bon bol franchir le viaduc de Gokteik moine à un moment de sa des champs ne connaît pas d’air frais de Pyin Oo Lwin (voir qui enjambe du haut de ses 102 vie ; cela fait partie du cursus la mécanisation, des femmes le UN Special du mois passé), mètres une gorge de près de classique. Il peut rester au accroupies lavent leur linge à nous embarquons dans le train 700 mètres de large. Datant de monastère pendant quelques la rivière alors que d’autres pour Hsipaw, situé à une bonne 1901, faite de poutrelles métal- semaines, un an, voire dix ans. confectionnent des éventails centaine de kilomètres au nord- liques, la construction semble Outre l’apprentissage des prin- en bambou à l’ombre de leur est. Quatre heures vont tout de bien frêle perchée entre ciel et cipes fondamentaux du boudd- hutte sur pilotis. Plus loin, un même être nécessaires pour terre. A une vitesse toute modé- hisme, on lui enseigne l’anglais. paysan fait prendre le bain à parcourir ce trajet. A décon- rée, nous nous engageons sur le Chaque matin, avant l’unique son buffle… Ici, la vie est loin seiller au voyageur pressé et pont, le bruit est assourdissant, repas du jour, ils partent par de s’être arrêtée, mais son sujet au vertige. A mi-chemin, le les craquements de l’édifice et petits groupes demander développement a simplement

40 | UN Special – Avril 2018 été construits. Monumentaux, des plus destructeurs. Dès les majestueux ou plus modestes, années 1990, une vague de res- bien conservés ou en ruine, taurations a été entreprise sous ils recouvrent Bagan et ses l’égide du gouvernement bir- environs, le long du fleuve man. Mais un puissant séisme de Irrawaddy. Un site fascinant à magnitude 6,8 a frappé de nou- visiter à pied, en calèche, en veau le centre du pays en août scooter (électrique) ou à sur- 2016, endommageant sérieuse- voler en montgolfière. ment près de 200 monuments.

Monument le plus sacré de Un séjour de trois jours au Bagan, la pagode Shwezigon en minimum est nécessaire pour est l’une des constructions les se faire une vague idée du site plus anciennes. On attribue sa de Bagan et de ses incroyables fondation à Anawrahta à partir richesses. Notre périple se de 1059 et son achèvement sous poursuivra à Myinkaba, au sud le règne de son fils Kyanzittha, du vieux Bagan, où sont édifiés en 1102. Considérée comme le les temples de Nanpaya (sanc- prototype de toutes les pago- tuaire hindou) de Manuha et de des birmanes, Shwezigon est Kubyauk Gyi (le plus ancien que en même temps unique car l’on peut dater à Bagan). De ses c’est la seule du pays à être 63 mètres de haut, le temple construite en pierre et non Thatbyinnyu domine tous les en briques. Elle renfermerait autres monuments de la ville dans sa base un os temporal dont ses voisins Shwegugyi et

© Claude Maillard du Bouddha ramené de Sri Dhammayan Gyi, le plus impo- La pagode Shwezigon, monument le plus sacré de Bagan. Ksetra (Royaume du bassin de sant du site malgré qu’il soit l’Irrawaddy fondé par le groupe resté inachevé. été ralenti par les affres de la son nom au Taung Kalat, une ethnique pyu au Ve siècle) ainsi dictature. ancienne cheminée volcanique qu’une de ses dents, reçue du Nous garderons le meilleur de 737 mètres de haut au som- roi de Ceylan. pour la fin avec le temple Ancienne capitale politique des met de laquelle se trouve un d’Ananda, le plus beau et l’un Etats shans du Nord, Lashio tient monastère bouddhiste. Il est La visite se poursuivra par des plus vénérés de Bagan. Son aujourd’hui un rôle important considéré comme le refuge la découverte du temple toit, formé de six terrasses est dans le commerce avec la Chine. des 37 Grands Nats, les anciens Kubyauk Gyi qui abrite de dominé par une tour-sanctuaire La ville est en effet située sur esprits de Myanmar avant que très riches peintures murales de type indien terminée par un la route qui relie Mandalay à la le roi Anawrahta (1015-1078) du XIIIe siècle, puis par celle stupa très effilé, couvert d’or qui cité frontalière de Muse. Accueil ne fasse du bouddhisme la reli- du temple Htilominlo qui, avec culmine à 55 mètres. Un très austère, nous n’irons pas plus gion d’Etat. Lieu de pèlerinage ses 50 m, est l’un des plus important festival s’y déroule loin et reprendrons la route important, son ascension se fait hauts de Bagan. La pagode à la pleine lune de Pyatho, de pour le Sud… en devant nous pieds nus par 777 marches. Shwesandaw qui renferme un décembre à janvier dans le résoudre à faire de l’auto-stop. cheveu du Bouddha est avant calendrier traditionnel birman. Bus en panne nous n’aurons pas Bagan et ses temples tout la plus populaire. En effet, le choix pour rejoindre Mandalay millénaires sa vaste plate-forme circulaire Après avoir inhalé de la pous- au milieu d’une circulation L’aube se lève sur la plaine de au sommet offre la possibilité sière durant ces trois jours pas- anarchique essentiellement Bagan hérissée de pagodes, d’admirer le coucher de soleil sés à Bagan, perchés sur nos composée de camions faisant de temples et de monastères. sur le site de Bagan. L’escalier calèches, une pause rafraîchis- du commerce avec la Chine. D’une superficie de 42 km2, qui permet de grimper à une sante sur le fleuve Irrawaddy L’Aventure c’est l’Aventure ! le complexe archéologique trentaine de mètres de haut est sera la bienvenue. Né dans Sur notre chemin, la pagode est considéré comme l’un des vertigineux mais ne décourage les montagnes de l’Himalaya, Bawgyo se mire dans son bas- plus vastes d’Asie, comparable pas des milliers de touristes il se jette 2170 km plus au sud sin. De toute beauté, c’est l’une à Angkor, au Cambodge, dont venus s’y risquer des quatre dans la mer d’Andaman après des plus vénérées de la région. il est pratiquement contem- coins du monde pour profiter avoir traversé intégralement porain. Du XIe au XIVe siècle, de ce panorama exceptionnel. Myanmar qui est vraiment un Bagan n’est plus très loin. Mais Bagan, jadis orthographié pays extraordinaire à découvrir avant de rejoindre la plaine, Pagan, a été la capitale du pre- Malheureusement, situé dans pour son formidable accueil et une région montagneuse reste mier Empire birman. Durant une zone sismique, ce haut lieu sa multitude de richesses. Q encore à traverser. Culminant à cette période, près de 3000 édi- touristique de Myanmar a subi 1518 m, le mont Popa se dresse fices, qui aujourd’hui émergent de nombreux tremblements de Agence de voyage « Adorable Myanmar » – www.adorablemyanmar.com à l’horizon. Ce volcan a donné d’une forêt à perte de vue, ont terre dont celui de 1975, l’un

UN Special – April 2018 | 41 ARTS & CULTURE

Mens sana in corpore sano (3) Curcuma – a miracle for your corpore sano

As many of you seem to be interested Today, more and more scholars stomach ulcers, and high choles- study the useful properties of terol. Based on studies, turmeric in Ayurveda and liked the previous this herb, and keep discovering and curcumin might also help articles, together with my “pen-friend” its really miraculous qualities to treat upset stomach, diabetes, treat many health conditions. depression, HIV, uveitis, and Oleksanrd, we are inviting you today Today, it is believed to have viral infections. But it’s impor- to visit one more Ayurveda speciality not only anti-inflammatory tant to keep in mind that most of and anti-oxidant, but perhaps these studies have been done in called Curcuma. even anti-cancer properties. the laboratory. However, more Curcumin, a substance in tur- solid research has also been meric, helps to reduce inflam- done by the American scientist, mation. Several studies suggest Dr. Milan Fiala, from the Univer- EVELINA RIOUKHINA & OLEKSANDR been used traditionally as a that it might ease the symptoms sity of California, Los Angeles, SVIRCHEVSKYY disinfectant and treatment for of osteoarthritis and rheuma- who found out that the compo- As in the famous saying “What’s laryngitis, bronchitis, and dia- toid arthritis. sition of turmeric includes an old is new again”, curcuma is betes. For many of us, this word immunomodulator, which in one of the most fashionable is still new, we are not used to In lab tests, curcumin seems turn stimulates immune system new words in our vocabulary hearing “curcuma”. However, to block the growth of certain cells called macrophages to clear today. But in reality, it has been we all do know it, having at kinds of tumours. One study away the amyloid beta which around for centuries, or even least once tried Indian curry, of showed that turmeric extract cause Alzheimer’s disease by for millennia as a special spice which it is the main component. containing curcumin could – in increasing the immune system in India and in Central Asia that The spice (and supplement) some cases – stabilize colorec- and decreasing the inflamma- increases immunity, energy, comes from the underground tal cancer that wasn’t helped by tion, thus reducing Alzheimer “purifies the body”, and even stems (rhizomes) of the tur- other treatments. Other prelim- plaque formation. “If we can in the old times it was known meric plant called Curcuma inary lab studies suggest that improve the immune system, we as the strongest antiseptic, or longa, and is a member of the curcumin or turmeric might can help the body’s natural abil- “natural antibiotic”, and has ginger family. protect against types of colitis, ity to clear damaging plaques,”

42 | UN Special – Avril 2018 Recipe for health and well-being – the famous “Golden milk” Recipe for health – “Golden mixture” This drink has several variations. The simplest is given below. Prepare a mixture of the following ingredients: Preparation – 2 steps : 100 mg of honey Step 1 – to take half cup of curcuma, 1 coffee spoon of pepper and half 2 soup spoons of curcuma cup of water and to heat this mixture constantly stirring, until it becomes ½ coffee spoon of black pepper like a paste. To cool down and to put in a glass jar, to keep in the fridge. 2 soup spoons of lemon peel Step 2 – to take one cup of milk (any milk, sojy, coconut, almond, or 2 soup spoonful of apple vinegar venetable milk), to add one spoonful of mixture and to heat it (not to To take 1 soup spoon of the mixture daily. To let it “melt” down in your boil). When it is hot, to add a coffee spoon of honey (vanille can be mouth. Not to drink after. added for the taste). To drink warm. This “golden milk” has thousands of healing qualities, and taken before sleep, it helps against insomnia Recipe to raise immunity – wake-up drink and reliefs tension of the day. Drink every morning a glass of lukewarm water with the lemon, and add there one coffee-spoon of curcuma (you can also add a coffee spoon Recipe for … Beauty – anti-wrinkle mask, of honey for better taste). This drink will improve your digestion and or the mask for the “bonne mine” increase your immunity and general well-being. ¼ spoonful of curcuma 1 spoonful of cream (can be replaced by yogurt) Recipe for … Beauty – Glow mask 10 drops of oil (Kurjut, or Avocado or Abricot oil) ¼ tea spoonful of curcuma Mix all and to apply on your face. Leave for 30 minutes and wash it 1 tea spoon of honey away. This mask will takes off wrinkles, refresh and tonyfy your skin. 1 tea spoon of milk Mix the ingredients, apply on your face and leave for 10 minutes. Rince off with cold water. Your skin will glow. Fiala wrote in the Journal of attacks that result from auto- Alzheimer’s Disease. immune diseases (such as Mul- tiple Sclerosis). Recipe against cold and sore throat Curcumin’s health benefits may 1 tea spoonful of curcuma extend beyond Alzheimer’s dis- Do not be surprised to read 1 tea spoonful of milk 1 tea spoonful of honey ease. One recent study, carried today some flashy head- Prepare the mixture and take it 3 times daily to treat the sore throat out by researchers at Johns ings such as “Ten (Twelve or and even bronchitis. 1 spoonful daily can be taken as a prophylaxy Hopkins University, Baltimore, more) Proven Health Benefits (instead of “Golden mixture”). found that daily doses of the of Curcuma – including evi- spice were associated with a dence-based health benefits nearly 60 percent lower risk for the body and brain”. Or or Ayurvedic doctors in differ- And by the way, you do not for colon polyps, a known pre- “The Miraculous Effects of Cur- ent places/countries, and we need to travel far to buy cur- cursor to colon cancer. A recent cuma”. These are not only aim- have come to similar conclu- cuma, as today you can find it study involving mice has shown ing to attract the reader of the sions: curcuma does indeed everywhere – from specialised that turmeric slows the spread popular press, for such head- contribute to better health. shops to Migros spice corners. of breast cancer into lungs and ings appear today in scientific, Today, we share with you some You can buy it everywhere, other body parts. Turmeric also medical or health literature too. recipes that you can try in full however, Indian shops pro- enhances the effect of taxol confidence, as they have been vide the best quality. There in reducing the metastasis of It turns out that we both have tested by us for a number of are several in Geneva, in the breast cancer. It is also said been using curcuma for quite years now. Our recipes are sim- vicinity, and the closest one is that turmeric can strengthen a while, after having consulted ple and we will be happy if you just across the road. Q the blood-brain barrier against natural medicine doctors and/ find any of them useful.

Appelez le 022 700 98 00 pour toute réservation publicitaire dans UN SPECIAL

C.E.P. SA 42, quai Gustave-Ador 1207 Genève Régie publicitaire exclusive UN SPECIAL Tél.: 022 700 98 00 Fax: 022 700 90 55 Editeur & Régie Publicitaire de Revues e-mail: [email protected] Institutionnelles et Corporate

UN Special – April 2018 | 43 GLOBAL AFFAIRS / AFFAIRES GLOBALES

Working from the heights of La Paz, Bolivia An experience to share

When I arrived to Bolivia to work PAÚL COELLAR RÍOS1 the country and local levels in ...I could barely imagine the support of development. as a UN Volunteer in the UN Office rich, stimulating, intense and on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), inspiring experience that was The Country Office of UNODC waiting for me – and I am not in Bolivia is in itself a universe I could barely imagine... only referring to the side-ef- that took me more time than fects of the heights of La Paz expected to explore. Its rich (3,680 m.a.s.l.), nor to its history dates back to the mid- vibrant lifestyle, chaotic traffic 80s, when it operated as the UN jams, or the fast-moving pace Fund for Drug Abuse Control of its people. with the purpose of containing the increase of coca cultivation Beyond the latter, the experi- in the country. Ever since, the ence turned out to be unique organizational changes at the because I realized how all the global level that led to the cre- global instruments promoted by ation of what we know today the UN, which at times appear as UNODC have had conse- too abstract or far from reality quential impacts in Bolivia, in the field, can translate into broadening its scope of action infinite initiatives of change to crime prevention and crim- that the UN can promote at inal justice reform. Therefore,

44 | UN Special – Avril 2018 Yet these challenges look min- imal when I think about how fortunate I am to serve every day as a Volunteer at the United Nations – and, especially, to work with the UNODC in the beautiful country of Bolivia. During these past nine months, I have learned that the UN does make a difference when it works shoulder to shoulder with the government in dealing with the challenging issues of

UNCT Retreat at the shore of Lake Titicaca. Paúl Coellar Ríos. development. I have witnessed the power of UN pronuncia- tions on sensitive topics of the national agenda, especially as soon as I arrived, I became persons, wildlife crime, arms not always easy to address. This when the rights of the most very positively impressed when trafficking, etc.), prevention of is the part of my job that makes vulnerable are at risk. I cher- I learned that I had joined one and fight against corruption, this experience stimulating. ish the fact that my husband is of the biggest and most repu- or reform of the penitentiary fully recognized by the UN as table UN Agencies in Bolivia. and criminal justice systems. The experience has so far been my partner, allowing us to walk Working on building national fascinating yet not exempted of together through this experi- The title does not come with- capacities to effectively deal challenges. Financial resources ence. But, more importantly, I out responsibility. The issues with these issues is one of the for development are increas- am deeply thankful to be able we deal with everyday are many reasons that make this ingly scarce, which added to a to work in Bolivia, a country among the most sensitive in experience enriching. shrinking donor base in Bolivia, where people are genuinely the political scenario, yet we put together acute pressure noble, politics are extremely try to tactfully assist the gov- The work we do in the field is on the work that UN Agen- interesting, wine is unexpect- ernment when our expertise not isolated. As a former con- cies, Funds and Programmes edly good, and landscapes are makes a difference and adds sultant in the Country Cooper- would wish to undertake in stunningly beautiful. This is, to value to national efforts. Coca ation Department of the World the country. Human resources finish, what makes this experi- crop monitoring is indeed a Health Organization (WHO), I at the local level face growing ence inspiring. Q critical area of work of our remember working from head- pressure under the logics of Office: Bolivians are traditional quarters to assist field offices “doing more with less,” with You can find more information about the work of UNODC in Bolivia at https:// consumers of coca leaf in its in different areas ranging from most staff periodically worry- www.unodc.org/bolivia/ natural state –any visitor to La financing to programming or ing about the renewal of their 1 Paúl Coellar Ríos is a Crime Paz will in fact be grateful if reporting. Now that I work at contracts or unpaid interns Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer a cup of coca tea is served to the Programme Unit of UNODC hoping to be able to join, one at the International UNV UNODC Country Office in Bolivia mitigate the effects of the alti- in Bolivia, I interact on a daily day, the Organization. At the tude on the body– but the con- basis with our colleagues in same time, global administra- troversy lies on those harvests Vienna and other country tive systems and timeframes of coca leaf that might illegally offices in our region, whose still need to provide the nec- be diverged to the production permanent disposition to pro- essary flexibility to operate in of cocaine. UNODC monitoring vide assistance to our Office is contexts where culture, tech- of legal and illegal coca crops always accurate and is deeply nology, and ways of working informs national policy-making appreciated. My new role has do not follow the patterns or and supports the Government also benefited from the UN rhythms of industrialized coun- in its control activities through- system-wide perspective that tries. On the other hand, we out the country. Alternatively, I gained as a consultant at the in the field need to acknowl- the Office assists local farm- Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) in edge and better internalize ers in growing sustainable Geneva: this broad viewpoint the need to be more creative agricultural products instead has been very useful in my in providing comprehensive of mono-cultivation of coca, tasks of coordinating UNODC’s solutions to the inter-connected which in the long term has participation in the UN Devel- challenges of development, negative effects on the soil. opment Assistance Framework instead of repeating the same Other pillars of our work in (UNDAF) for Bolivia, where old approaches and expecting Bolivia are related to the pre- inter-agency collaboration is a different results. Working in vention of and fight against priority in our efforts to deliver this context is what makes my organized crime (trafficking in as one – an endeavour that is daily life quite intense.

UN Special – April 2018 | 45 JEUNES REPORTERS / YOUNG REPORTERS ©PCP / François Vioud ©PCP / François La science dans le changement climatique

ZOÉ FRIEDBACHER, Depuis de nombreuses années, changement climatique et trou- les émissions de gaz à effet de MANON GRANDJEAN1 les scientifiques observent une ver des solutions spécifiques serre (GES) dans l’ensemble des Les changements climatiques hausse constante des tempé- plus rapidement. pays qui se sont engagés dans ont de grandes répercussions ratures à l’échelle mondiale. l’Accord. Les pays qui ont déjà sur la vie quotidienne des popu- Ils ont encore une idée assez Si des mesures sont prises en ratifié l’Accord représentent lations partout dans le monde. vague des conséquences de ce avance, certaines catastrophes aujourd’hui 83% des émissions L’activité humaine en est la réchauffement et ne savent pas peuvent être évitées ou du mondiales. Il est à noter que principale cause, en particulier précisément ce qu’il va entrai- moins leurs effets atténués. De les Etats-Unis ont décidé de se dans les pays développés. La ner. La climatologie, la science nombreuses recherches tendent retirer de cet accord. Ils sont science peut-elle aider les Etats du climat, doit permettre de à prouver que d’ici quinze ans, pourtant le deuxième émetteur à lutter contre le réchauffement réaliser des études plus pré- la température moyenne de de GES dans le monde derrière climatique ? cises sur les conséquences du la terre aura augmenté de 5 la Chine. degrés. De multiples organisa- Jeunes Reporters à l’ONU est une initiative sous les auspices du Projet tions se sont mobilisées pour Grâce à la science, les orga- de Changement de Perception (PCP), dans le Bureau du Directeur général tenter de ralentir cette augmen- nisations qui luttent contre de l’ONU à Genève, la Fondation Eduki et le Service de l’Information tation de température. Le GIEC, le réchauffement climatique des Nations Unies. Il ouvre les portes des Nations Unies à Genève par exemple, est une organi- peuvent aujourd’hui avoir à dis- aux étudiants (16-19 ans) intéressés par les affaires internationales et sation intergouvernementale position des prévisions précises souhaitant discuter avec des experts de diverses organisations dans regroupant des experts scien- et ainsi convaincre les Etats le cadre d’une conférence de presse. Chaque session est thématique tifiques qui fournissent des rap- de participer à ce combat. La (p.ex.: les enjeux alimentaires, l’eau ou le développement international) ports détaillés sur l’évolution science permet aussi de mieux et 2-3 représentants d’organisations travaillant sur ces questions des changements climatiques. anticiper les conséquences de viennent parler de leur travail et des problèmes actuels. Les étudiants, Ils évoquent les causes, les la hausse des températures et en tant que reporters, ont l’opportunité de poser des questions afin conséquences et les solutions trouver des solutions pour sau- d’élargir leur compréhension sur ces enjeux, mais aussi sur le travail possibles pour limiter la hausse ver la planète. Q effectué pour les résoudre. Apres avoir recueilli les informations, les des températures à 1,5 degrés étudiants peuvent écrire un article qui sera publié dans UN Spécial ou 1 Zoé Friedbacher et Manon Grandjean d’ici 2050. les journaux des écoles, ou bien faire une présentation en classe. Cela sont toutes les deux élèves du Collège Calvin et sont âgées de donne l’opportunité aux étudiants d’en apprendre plus sur leurs centres 16 ans. d’intérêts mais aussi de mieux comprendre l’activité de la Genève En 2015, l’Accord de Paris a Internationale et enfin de communiquer aux autres ce qu’elle signifie. été approuvé par 195 Etats lors de la COP21. Il vise à réduire

46 | UN Special – Avril 2018 Message du rédacteur en chef Message from the editor-in-chief

Vous aimeriez partager votre opinion sur le magazine et son Would you like to share your opinion about UN Special and its contenu ? contents ?

N’hésitez plus et écrivez-nous ! Write to us!

Nous serions heureux de recevoir votre avis. We will be glad to hear from you. Les plus pertinents, les plus intéressants, les plus originaux The most interesting, relevant, or even ingenious responses seront publiés dans le magazine. will be published in the magazine.

Si vous souhaitez proposer un article, n’hésitez pas à me Should you wish to submit an article, please do not hesi- contacter à tout moment. tate to contact me at any time.

Et maintenant, à vos plumes ! Now, put pen to paper!

Adressez vos commentaires à : Send your thoughts to: Alex Mejia, rédacteur en chef – UN Special Alex Mejia, Editor-in-chief – UN Special Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Genève 10, Suisse Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland Par courrier électronique : [email protected] By email: [email protected]

La revue officielle des fonctionnaires internationaux des Nations Unies à Genève et de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé. UN Special Palais des Nations, bureau C507 The official magazine of the international civil servants of the United Nations at Geneva and of the Word Health Organization 1211 Genève 10 Les opinions exprimées dans UNS sont celles des auteurs, et The opinions in UNS are those of the authors, not necessarily [email protected] non forcément celles de l’ONU, de l’OMS ou de ses agences those of the United Nations, the WHO or its specialized agencies. www.unspecial.org spécialisées. La parution de ce magazine dépend uniquement The publication of this magazine relies solely on the financial In New York: office AB-0829 du support financier de la publicité prise en charge par une régie. support of its advertisers. Alex Mejia Impression / Printer Graphisme / Design Rédacteur en chef/Editor-in-chief Imprimerie du Moléson SA Atelier Schnegg+ – Michel Schnegg Garry Aslanyan Route du Nant d’Avril 107 – 1217 Meyrin – T. +41 22 782 50 82 Rue du Simplon 5, CH-1207 Genève Rédacteur adjoint/Deputy Editor Rue des Mouettes 12 – 1227 Carouge – T. +41 22 307 26 10 T. +41 22 344 72 90 – F. +41 22 340 24 11 Sarah Jordan www.molesonimpressions.ch www.atelier-schnegg.ch Rédacteur adjoint/Deputy Editor Sarah Bencherif Composition du bureau de rédaction Coordinatrice éditoriale/Editorial Coordinator Composition of the Editorial Board Catherine Peck-Arif Trésorier/Treasurer

Alexander Mejia Garry Aslanyan Sarah Jordan Prisca Chaoui Gemma Vestal Veronica Riemer

Éditeur / Publisher Contributeurs réguliers Site internet Présidents des associations du personnel Publicité / Advertising Regular contributors Website Staff association presidents C•E•P S.A. Quai Gustave-Ador 42, 1207 Genève T. +41 22 700 98 00 – F. +41 22 700 90 55 [email protected]

Imprimé sur du papier certifié FSC. Marie-José Solange Evelina Oleksandr Ian Richards, Marina Appiah, Tirage: 10 500 exemplaires Astre-Démoulin Behoteguy Rioukhina Svirchevskyy UNOG WHO

T 022 782 50 82 Route du Nant-d’Avril 107 - 1217 Meyrin Là où la relation n’est pas qu’une impression! Rue des Mouettes 12 - 1227 Carouge

UN Special – April 2018 | 47 EXECUTIVE PROGRAM DEGREES Certificate, Diploma, MBA

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS MANAGEMENT MBA GRANTMAKING NEW!

FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME PROGRAMS www.iomba.unige.ch www.grantmaking.ch

• Master advanced management skills and • Understand the complex and multifaceted practices in intergovernmental, public and context of contemporary grantmaking non-profit organizations • Master the full project level • Gain project management skills and set up innovative solutions • Develop and implement a project from strategy to ex-post evaluation • Strengthen your skills in leadership, team management and negotiations • Familiarize with best practices and new developments • Develop your professional network in Geneva

Contact & information: [email protected] Contact & information: [email protected]

MANAGING NON PROFIT GESTION ET MANAGEMENT DANS LES ORGANISMES ORGANIZATIONS (NPOs) INTENSIVE SANS BUT LUCRATIF

www.npo.unige.ch www.osbl.unige.ch

• Improve specific skills and competencies for • Les enjeux et défis du secteur managing Non Profit Organizations. • L’innovation et la gestion de projets • Develop projects in a complex environment with limited resources • Les techniques de management ciblées

• Create synergies between managerial practices • La communication et le leadership d’équipe and experiences amongst and within NPOs • La pluridisciplinarité du domaine

• Les contraintes financières spécifiques

Contact & information: [email protected] Contact & information: [email protected]

GENEVA SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT