UN – United Nations

The goal of this new program, announced on Sunday, is to double access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa, where more than two-thirds of the people now have none, including 85 percent of those living in rural areas. Gayle Smith, Obama’s senior director for development and democracy, explained the need in more personal terms: “If you want lights so kids can study at night or you can maintain vaccines in a cold chain, you don’t have […]

This post was originally published in The Hill’s Congress blog. The cholera epidemic that has claimed so many lives in Haiti remains a public health crisis, and it demands action  ̶  from all of us. Action is exactly what 19 Members of Congress are reasonably asking of the United Nations, and it is what UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is working to deliver. In a letter spearheaded by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-NY) earlier this summer, these Members urged

Hundreds of young people are gathered at the United Nations today with one message for world leaders: Every child deserves an education.  They are joined by a very special guest – Malala Yousafzai, the courageous Pakistani teenage girl who was attacked last fall for championing education, especially for girls. In 2000, governments and the UN adopted the Millennium Development Goals, eight goals to tackle some of the world’s biggest issues, including ensuring all children get

Meet Felisa Hilbert, a Champion for the UN Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign, which was launched in 2012 to help the UN expand access to lifesaving vaccines for children in developing countries.  Champions dedicate their voices and time to help protect children from preventable diseases, such as measles, pneumonia, polio, and rotavirus. Hilbert, who lives with her family in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was born and raised in Mexico, where she worked as nurse in rural and underprivileged

Passionate. Powerful. Inspiring. These were the words that came to mind when I first heard about Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai. Her only crime was advocating for the right of girls to receive an education.  Since healed, Malala is more devoted to her cause than ever. On July 12, her 16th birthday, the United Nations honored Malala for her bravery. Malala and 500 youth delegates from 85 countries (the enthusiastic party guests) celebrated Malala’s sweet