Over the past decade, major progress has been made towards increasing access to education generally, as well as for persons with autism specifically.

However, in 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, a majority of countries announced the temporary closure of schools, impacting more than 90 per cent of students worldwide. The disruption in learning caused by the pandemic has reversed years of progress and has exacerbated inequalities in education.

On July 2, cooperatives all around the world will celebrate the 100th International Day of Cooperatives (#CoopsDay). A decade on from the UN International Year of Cooperatives, which showcased the unique contribution of cooperatives to making the world a better place, this year’s #CoopsDay slogan –“Cooperatives Build a Better World”– echoes the theme of the International Year.

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP), which takes place annually on 6 April, presents an opportunity to recognize the positive role sport and physical activity play in communities and in people’s lives across the globe.

Sport has the power to change the world; it is a fundamental right and a powerful tool to strengthen social ties and promote sustainable development and peace, as well as solidarity and respect for all.

This year’s briefing focused on “Shameful Contrast: Inequality at the Intersection of Age and Gender” with a spotlight on older women and aims to transform political momentum into action that will empower older women and further promote gender equality.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted by the General Assembly by its resolution 61/106 of 13 December 2006. It came into force on 3 May 2008 upon the 20th ratification. Article 40 of the Convention stipulates that “The States Parties shall meet regularly in a Conference of States Parties in order to consider any matter with regard to the implementation of the present Convention.” Since 2008, 14 sessions of the Conference of States Parties have been held at United Nations Headquarters, New York.

Down syndrome occurs when an individual has an extra partial (or whole) copy of chromosome 21. It is not yet know why this syndrome occurs, but Down syndrome has always been a part of the human condition. It exists in all regions across the globe and commonly results in variable effects on learning styles, physical characteristics and health.

Adequate access to health care, to early intervention programmes, and to inclusive education, as well as appropriate research, are vital to the growth and development of the individual.

Addressing ageism and fostering collaboration across all groups is needed to advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, ensuring that no one is left behind. Ageism is defined by the World Health Organisation as the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) directed towards others or oneself, based on age. It is an insidious and often accepted health, human rights and development issue that affects both older and younger populations around the world.

According to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Resolution 2000/22, the Permanent Forum consists of “…eight members to be nominated by Governments and elected by the Council, and eight members to be appointed by the President of the Council following formal consultation with the Bureau and the regional groups through their coordinators, on the basis of broad consultations with indigenous organizations, taking into account the diversity and geographical distribution of the indigeno

On Friday 4 February, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs will organize a regional dialogue on North America on Indigenous Peoples’ autonomy and self-governance, in cooperation with the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

The dialogue will take place at 2 pm in New York (EST).

The dialogue will be moderated by Mr. Geoffrey Roth, member of the Permanent Forum.

For many decades, the General Assembly has been mindful of the difficulties and opportunities presented by technological change.  In 2015, the Addis Ababa Agenda for Action 69/313 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development established the Technology Facilitation Mechanism to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).