Chinese Language Day at the UN is celebrated annually on April 20. (Archive photo) Top news of the day | Monday: Ukraine, immunization, indigenous peoples, Chinese UN
The main news of the day in the UN and the world: the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Vanessa Fraser completed her trip to Ukraine, within the framework of European Immunization Week the WHO is reminded of the effectiveness of vaccines, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues launched in New York, the UN celebrates Chinese Language Day.
Trip of the UN Special Representative for Ukraine
UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Vanessa Fraser completed a five-day trip to Ukraine, during which she discussed with the country’s leadership and humanitarian partners the protection of children affected by war. Fraser also met with children who told her about their desire to learn and live without fear. This was her first visit to the country as a special representative.
European Immunization Week
The twentieth European Immunization Week has started. Her goal is increase public awareness about vaccines. Over the past half century, vaccinations are estimated to have saved about 154 million lives worldwide. However, in a number of countries in the WHO European Region, vaccination rates are declining, and large-scale outbreaks are becoming increasingly common. For example, in 2024, the number of measles cases exceeded 127 thousand, reaching a 27-year high.
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Indigenous peoples are the custodians of millennia of knowledge, and their role in global decision-making is now more important than ever. The UN Secretary-General stated this at the opening of the 25th session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The UN chief emphasized that conflicts related to land resources often occur in the world. In this context, Guterres noted, violations of the rights of indigenous peoples are often committed, including illegal mining on their lands. The Secretary General called for protecting their rights around the world.
Chinese Language Day
On April 20, the UN celebrates Chinese Language Day. It is one of the six official languages of the UN, along with English, Arabic, Spanish, Russian and French. The decision to celebrate this Day was made in 2010 in order to promote cultural and linguistic diversity. The date was chosen to honor Cang Jie, the legendary founder of Chinese writing. According to legend, on this day the heavenly forces sent a rain of grain grains to the people of China to thank Cang Jie for his contribution to Chinese culture.