Media Update 16 July 2021 __________ United Nations SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE THE SECRETARY-GENERAL -- MESSAGE ON NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY 18 July 2021 Nelson Mandela International Day is an opportunity to reflect on the life and legacy of a legendary global advocate for dignity, equality, justice and human rights. Each year, on this day, Nelson’s Mandela’s birthday, we pay tribute to this extraordinary man who embodied the highest aspirations of the United Nations and the human family. Madiba’s calls for solidarity and an end to racism are particularly relevant today, as social cohesion around the world is threatened by division. Societies are becoming more polarized, with hate speech on the rise and misinformation blurring the truth, questioning science and undermining democratic institutions. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made these ills more acute and rolled back years of progress in the global fight against poverty. As always in times of crises, it is the marginalized and discriminated against who suffer the most, often while being blamed for problems they did not cause. The pandemic has shown the vital importance of human solidarity and unity, values championed and exemplified by Nelson Mandela in his lifelong fight for justice. E-mail: [email protected], Web: pakistan.un.org No one is safe until all are safe. And each of us has a part to play. Let us be inspired by Madiba’s message that each of us can make a difference in promoting peace, human rights, harmony with nature and dignity for all. Let us all honour Madiba’s call to action and be empowered by his legacy. [END] Download link: Int’l clean, https://s3.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+MANDE LA+DAY+2021/MSG+SG+MANDELA+DAY+2021+09+JUL+21+CLEAN.mp4 Audio file mp3, https://s3.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+MANDE LA+DAY+2021/MSG+SG+MANDELA+DAY+2021+09+JUL+21+Audio.mp3 *** UNICEF PRESS RELEASE The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Sindh Report Launched Islamabad: July 16, 2021 – Findings of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in Sindh were unveiled in a ceremony held in Karachi which was chaired by the Acting Chairperson, Planning & Development Board, Dr. Shereen Mustafa. Welcoming the participants, Dr. Shereen Mustafa underscored the importance of MICS as a tool for making evidence-based decisions. “MICS is one of the credible sources of data. The quality of data is comparable to international set of standards. MICS data could be used to monitor and report progress on Sustainable Development Goals,” she said. E-mail: [email protected], Web: pakistan.un.org The survey was conducted in all 29 districts of Sindh by the Board of Statistics (BOS) Sindh during 2018-2019 using the MICS6 global methodology, with technical support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). MICS is an international household survey programme used by the Government of Sindh as a source of important and reliable information based on a comprehensive set of socioeconomic indicators to help make informed decisions for people of the province. The BOS, Planning & Development Department Sindh conducted two rounds of MICS in 2003-04 and 2014 prior to the third round in 2018-19. These surveys have proved to be imperative tools for development initiatives and in determining public budgetary outlays, particularly for the social sector. With its strong commitment towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Government of Sindh undertook MICS 2018-19 as one of the largest exercises of its kind with the sample of 20,540 households in the province. Findings of MICS Sindh are being used to fill in the data gaps for monitoring human development in general and the situation of children and women in particular. The survey provides statistically sound and internationally comparable data on more than 170 socio-economic indicators, including 32 SDGs indicators. The sample of the Sindh MICS 2018-19 was designed to provide estimates on the situation of children and women in the province, for urban and rural areas, and at the district-level. Results of some key indicators have revealed that: • Child mortality rate has considerably declined from 104/1000 live births (MICS 2014) to 46/l000 live births (MICS 2018-19) • Health indicators have improved since the last MICS in 2014 such as the number of skilled birth attendants has increased from 65 per cent to almost 83 per cent. • Child labour in Sindh has declined during the last five years from 26% to 10.4% • Nine out of ten households are using basic drinking water services, while almost 7 in ten households using improved sanitation services • Total fertility rate has declined from 4.0 to 3.7 per women, age 15-49 years. E-mail: [email protected], Web: pakistan.un.org • Infant and Young Child Feeding indicators show an improvement trend, but stunting is almost stagnant since last MICS in 2014 • Prevalence of child marriage continues to be high with almost one in four of women age 20-24 getting married before the age of 18 years, even it drops from 31 percent reported in the last Sindh MICS “Launch of the provincial MICS is a great achievement which places the Government of Sindh in the top tier having internationally verified and comparable data to make informed decisions for its people,” said Aida Girma, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan. “I thank and commend the commitment and leadership of the Bureau of Statistics, Planning and Development Board, for meeting international standards in conducting the survey and hope that the findings go a long way in steering the development work in the province in favour of most marginalized children, adolescents and all other citizens. While UNICEF continues to assist the government, it encourages researchers and policymakers to access and use the MICS data for further secondary analysis, and policy development,” she added. The ceremony was also attended by Chief Economist P&DD, Director General BOS, Member Social Sector, Pⅅ Special Secretary PHED, PC, LGD; Chief of Field Office UNICEF, Chief Social Policy UNICEF and many others who attended virtually. For more information, please contact Abdul Sami Malik, UNICEF Pakistan, [email protected], +92 300 855 6654 About UNICEF UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org and www.unicef.org/pakistan. For more information about COVID-19, visit www.unicef.org/coronavirus. Find out more about UNICEF’s work on the COVID-19 vaccines here, or about UNICEF’s work on immunization here. Follow UNICEF Pakistan on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and UNICEF South Asia on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. *** UNDP PRESS RELEASE E-mail: [email protected], Web: pakistan.un.org Ministry of Climate Change and UNDP launch the Youth and Climate Change Perception Report Islamabad, 16 July 2021—The Ministry of Climate Change in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan launched a comprehensive report on “Youth and Climate Change Perception” in Islamabad today. With Mr Malik Amin Aslam, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change as the chief guest, the event was attended by the senior management of Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) and UNDP including Naheed Shah Durrani, Secretary, MoCC and Ms Aliona Niculita, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. The study explored the youth of Pakistan’s varied perspectives on climate change, against themes of vulnerability, adaptation strategies, regulatory knowledge, and climate advocacy; and provided crucial insights into the background, knowledge and awareness of youth about the concept, causes and effects of climate change. The survey has also been included in Pakistan Economic Survey 2020-2021. Speaking on the occasion, Malik Amin Aslam, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change stated, ‘Pakistan's youth carries incredible potential to ensure sustainable development. A resilient youth translates to a resilient nation, and our youth has taken initiatives that carry not only socioeconomic significance but have an eco-friendliness facet to it as well. The incumbent government is very cognizant of this youth potential and has made it its top priority to engage youth in its developmental interventions.’ UNDP Resident Representative a.i. Ms. Aliona Niculita said, ‘Well aligned with the Government of Pakistan’s priorities, UNDP has been working to enhance representation of youth in the national climate agenda. I am glad that UNDP, under its Climate Promise initiative, has supported the Government of Pakistan in undertaking this rapid perception study, which opens more avenues for collaborative policy and programmatic efforts. We are dedicated to mainstream the voice of marginalized youth in national climate plans.’ During the event, Naheed Shah Durrani, Secretary MoCC, said, ‘Pakistan is going through a tough period, where we have to ensure that social, economic and environmental performance of Pakistan grows at a steady rate. Against the challenges of climate change and growing rates of unemployment, we have launched a range of youth-focused policies and programmes to involve them E-mail: [email protected], Web: pakistan.un.org in national development. We need to harness Pakistani youth’s potential to build a better, sustainable future.’ A panel discussion was also held at the launch event where young climate activists and professionals working in climate change sphere shared their insights on youth’s role in climate action and policymaking. The panellists discussed how youth can be engaged at the grassroots level to improve climate change adaptation techniques as well as ways to promote women-led climate action.