Locations5 December 2018, Islamabad— The United Nations State of World’s Volunteerism Report 2018 was launched at a ceremony held to mark the International Volunteer Day 2018 in Islamabad today.
International Volunteer Day, held each year on 5 December, celebrates the efforts of volunteers and organizations, to share their values, and to promote their work among their communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), United Nations agencies, government authorities and the private sector. This year’s theme “Volunteers build Resilient Communities” celebrates volunteer efforts that strengthen local ownership and the resilience of the community in the face of natural disasters, economic stresses and political shocks.
The United Nations Volunteer (UNV) Programme in Pakistan joined to support and promote the International Volunteer Day celebrations in Islamabad. Ignacio Artaza, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Director in Pakistan announced the official launch of Pakistan volunteer awards to honour young men and women who are making extraordinary and selfless contributions to the society. Nominations for these awards will be accepted from 1 January through end of February 2019.
The event was attended by Ms. Shandana Khan, Member National Assembly, Ms. Quratulain Marri, Senator, Wajiha Akram, Parliamentary Secretary Education, Heads of UN Agencies, Members of Diplomatic Corps, Representatives from Civil Society and Media, Youth and Students.
“Resilient communities allow for dynamic interactions between people facing threats and their environments. Understanding how such interactions occur is essential for supporting people-led approaches to peace and development. Youth-led volunteerism enables societies to work together, shaping collective opportunities for dealing with risk and connecting individuals and communities with wider systems of support,” said Ignacio Artaza, UNDP Country Director in Pakistan.
In 2002, Pakistan was amongst the 142 Member States that co-sponsored the UN General Assembly Resolution 57/106, which requested the UN Secretary-General to factor volunteerism into his reports on the implementation of the Millennium Declaration. In the last 10 years, UNV has mobilized more than 350 national and international volunteers from more than 12 countries, including Pakistan. These volunteers have worked with almost every UN agency in Pakistan in various capacities.
Earlier, António Guterres, UN Secretary-General in his statement also recognized the important role of UN Volunteers in promoting sustainable development. "The diverse and dynamic role of volunteerism in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals merits strong support from Governments and other stakeholders. On this International Day, I thank volunteers for their efforts to leave no one behind," he said.
For additional information, please contact Waseem Ashraf at waseem.ashraf@unv.org
