The hot-button topics of sexual exploitation and abuse, gender equality and migration were highlighted on three definitive stamps recently issued by the United Nations Postal Administration.
The stamps, which were issued March 15, aim to raise awareness about three of the social problems facing the world today. The issue is available in a set of three singles; a set of three 20-stamp sheets; a set of three first-day covers; a single first-day cover with all three stamps; and a set of three first-day covers, each franked with a block of four.
The issue was designed by conceptual illustrator Chris Gash, of New Jersey, whose work can be found in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Scientific American and many other publications. He has also worked with many companies, universities and design studios, including Harvard University, Nickelodeon, Wells Fargo, the British Broadcasting Company and most recently the United Nations.
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION & ABUSE
No institution is immune to the problem of sexual exploitation and abuse.
To address the stigma and discrimination that victims face, the United Nations recognizes its unique responsibility to set global standards – from prevention to response – in confronting sexual exploitation and abuse.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres pledged to do everything within his authority in partnership with member states and civil society to eradicate sexual exploitation and abuse. Building on the existing zero-tolerance policy, the United Nations has developed a strategy aimed at bringing about a cultural and operational change to improve dramatically how the United Nations prevents and responds to sexual exploitation and abuse.
As a centrepiece of this strategy, Guterres has prioritized first and foremost the rights and dignity of victims. Prevention and accountability are at the core implementing the zero-tolerance policy, as are related measures to raising public awareness, training and conducting risk assessments.
For more information about this topic please visit un.org/preventing-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse.
GENDER EQUALITY
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and therefore half of its potential. While some progress has been made towards gender equality and women’s empowerment, women and girls continue to experience discrimination and violence in every part of the world. Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes will help sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large.
Implementing new legal frameworks regarding women’s equality in the workplace and the eradication of harmful practices targeted at women is crucial to ending gender-based discrimination. United Nations Sustainable Development goal five – “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” – specifically addresses these issues.
For more information about this goal as well as the other sustainable development goals, visit un.org/sustainabledevelopment.
MIGRATION
Record-breaking numbers of refugees and migrants are moving across international borders, fleeing conflict, persecution, poverty and other life-threatening situations or responding to labour and skill shortages and demographic changes and seeking better opportunities elsewhere.
Migration provides immense opportunity and benefits—for the migrants, host communities and communities of origin. But when poorly regulated, migration can create significant challenges, including overwhelming social infrastructures with the unexpected arrival of large numbers of people and the deaths of migrants undertaking dangerous journeys.
The United Nations has implemented several initiatives to address these challenges.
In 2016, the UN General Assembly decided to develop a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration through the adoption of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants.
Last July, United Nations member states finalized the text for the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, which was formally adopted by member states at an Intergovernmental Conference held in Marrakesh, Morocco, in December.
For more information about this topic, visit refugeesmigrants.un.org.