Showing posts with label UN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UN. Show all posts

International Women's Day 2017

Cheers to all the women in the world!

Happy International Women's Day.




The International Women's Day is celebrated every March 8.

The remarkable achievements and valuable contributions of women from every corner of the world, at every level, are cherished. Many have been achieved, as more and more women across the globe are empowered and have enjoyed better education, more decent works, more civil and political rights, and better health, among others. Women's rights are at the center of many policies and initiatives, be it at the national, regional and global level.


The 2017 commemoration of the IWD

Nevertheless, at the same time, we fully realize and recognize the daunting challenges faces by women and girls in many corners of the world, ranging from discrimination and inequality at the work field to extreme poverty and domestic violence. Too often women pay greater price and face far greater risks in many aspects of life, including at home, in the community, or in public space.


Here at the UN, UN Women, or the United Nations Entity for Gender  Equality and the Empowerment of Women, this day serves as the vivid remind of the constant struggle and continued efforts in ensuring better and dignified life for all women and girls. As the UN body mandated to ensure gender equality and empowerment, UN Women sure has a lot to work on, together with governments, civil society organizations, and women themselves, in order to realize those goals.

The theme for 2017 IWD is Women in the changing world of work: Planet 50-50 by 2030.

We had a series of panel discussions featuring many inspiring panelists, including Anne Hathaway on her capacity as the Global Goodwill Ambassador.


The Goodwill Ambassador, Anne Hathaway (photo was taken from unwomen.org)

We also have many speakers from various business and organizations such as Google, LinkedIn, Airbnb, CONNECT and WIEGO, speaking and sharing food for thoughts on the changing environment affecting women and the challenges entailed.




Flawlessly moderated by Sade Baderinwa from ABC News, the commemoration has openly discussed about the strategies towards gender parity and further women empowerment in many fields. And how women continue to strive and stand up for her rights.

Menjadi perempuan memang penuh dengan tantangan.
Baik itu di kantor, di komunitas dan lingkungan masyarakat, maupun di dalam keluarga.
Terkadang, saya berpikir apakah apa yang saya harus lalui untuk meraih cita-cita, karir yang lebih baik dan kehidupan yang nyaman, sama beratnya dengan yang dialami rekan pria saya. dulu, tidak jarang saya membatin,"enak ya jadi laki-laki...tidak perlu repot melakukan ini itu, tidak perlu merasakan ini itu, bisa fokus pada karir ....," dan sebagainya. 

But then,  I realize bahwa menjadi perempuan adalah anugrah luar biasa!

Saya yakin dan percaya kalau perempuan memang diciptakan untuk menjadi sosok hebat yang  mampu melewati aneka tantangan dalam berbagai fase hidupnya. Mulai dari kecil, beranjak dewasa, berkarir, berumah tangga, hingga menikmati masa tua. Sejak kecil kita ditempa untuk menjadi sosok mandiri yang bermanfaat bagi orang lain, terutama keluarga dan orang terdekat, dengan kasih sayang dan kelembutan hati. 

Saya bersyukur banget diberi kesempatan untuk belajar memasak sejak kecil dan bertanggung jawab menyiapkan sarapan untuk keluarga hingga saya kuliah. Belum lagi kewajiban lain untuk menjaga adik-adik, membantu membersihkan rumah dan lainnya. Dan itu semua tidak mengurangi semangat saya untuk belajar dan terus belajar berbagai ilmu dan keahlian yang saya sukai sekaligus aktif di berbagai kegiatan dan organisasi di sekolah, kampus dan di mana pun saya berada. Saya yakin tempaan sejak kecil ini membuat kita menjadi sosok perempuan yang tidak mudah menyerah dan selalu berupaya menjadi yang terbaik. Tinggal memastikan bahwa kita memiliki kesempatan untuk terus mengembangkan diri, menjadi yang terbaik dan memberi kontribusi positif kepada dunia. 

Well, back to IWD, here's the short video from UN Women on the event this year.




So, chin up. 
Keep the spirit high.
I believe, women are naturally blessed with strength and versatility. 
Thus, women have so much potentials and opportunities to further develop and benefit from the constantly changing world.

I sincerely hope we can achieve more in ensuring gender equality and women empowerment.

To all the women in the world!

January Sky

It has been quite sometimes I did not post my snaps on NYC sky.
Surprisingly, January has been crazily busy for me.
Meeting after meeting has confiscated my days and besides, the weather was rather wet, cold, and gloomy in the last couple of weeks. And the recent dynamics in politics is a bit worrisome as well.
I'm not going to bother you with what we discussed inside this organization, but you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Well, back to my hobby of peeping up the sky, recently we had some sunny days.
And trust me,  it's good to welcome sunshine again!
Although the crispy, freezing winter wind still come and get you.

So I rushed myself out and snapped a view of January sky.

And it's great to be outside!

Grayish ..but much, much better


Although the sky is typical greyish winter, but looking at Merah Putih, the national flag of my beloved Indonesia, majestically raised up there against the backdrop of the UN flag and clear sky, makes me feel good.
And proud.




Hope you enjoy it as much as I do :)

the sphere within the sphere...


Join us on Skywatch Friday and be blessed by majestic skies' photos from many corners of the world


Wintery Days at UNHQ

Winter is here!
In the last few days, NYC has been frozen with bone-chilled wind.
Well, nothing new of course, as winter has always been cladded with freezing, windy days and some minor storms last years.

While the temperature plunged down to sub zero, the sky, magnificently, remains clear and beautifully blue.



Including here near the UNHQ.

Although December is here, and holiday season as well as the end of the year is looming in, we still have meetings. In fact, many meetings.

So, it's good to be out of the building for a while.
Just to enjoy the beautiful sky up there.



Complete with its cute, puffy clouds.
Dotting the sky in its unique ways.



I still get myself lost in thoughts and prayers.
Whenever I look up and picture myself roaming freely just like the sky.
Feel the breeze and the warm comfort engulfing me before going back to where I stand and tighten my jacket :).



I will never stop sending prayers and hopes for all the problems we have in this world.
I wish those never ending discussions and negotiations within the UN's walls and rooms will continue to bring changes to the ground.
To those who need it.
To everyone of us.


sphere within sphere...Gift from Italy 

Join me on Skywatch Friday and enjoy the magnificent skies from many parts of the world.





UN in Blue

I have been spending so much time at the UN lately. We are in the middle of intense debates and endless meetings on the issues related to decolonization. For the last three week, I spend my 10-6, sometimes even more, at this headquarters.

As much as I was tied up with works (oh all those piles of documents and reports), I need some time off just to clear my mind.

Good thing that the UN Headquarters is beautifully situated at the banks of the East River.


I just need to get out of the building.
Look ahead, look up and inhale.
What a glorious blue sky.
What a beautiful day.
How blessed I am...


Works will always be there.
Waiting for you... 
With its consuming hands, draining your energy,- and sometimes happiness, too.

peace....

But whenever you know when to stop...
To pause for a while..
To have a quick break for more precious things in your life...

Then life will always be filled with new hopes and spirit.

Hope, a gift from Latvia to the United Nations

Join us on Skywatch Friday and enjoy the lovely sky from all over the world :)


WW: Art Exhibition at the UN

Aren't they all beautiful?
Art Exhibition at the UN Headquarters in New York City.

really love this one..


the complete version..


cute :)

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Midtown Manhattan afterwork


Having a long day following several meetings back to back is tiring indeed.
But despite the fact that I have tons of works to finish, I have one quick remedy for this work-related fatique 
Clear blue sky.


Clear blue sky..selalu membuatku menyebut nama-Nya..

Seringkali saya merasa lelah dengan jadwal kegiatan sendiri. Don't get me wrong, bukannya saya mengeluh ya. Hanya terkadang saya geleng-geleng kepala sendiri. Menjadi discussant di satu tempat, mengikuti negosiasi untuk persiapan High-level Meeting, mempersiapkan seminar kawasan tahunan dan endless phonecalls dengan counterparts dan kolega saya di UN. 
Asli seru.

Saat cuaca cerah begini, rasanya saya ingin sidang di luar saja. Di bawah langit biru yang membentang bersih. Yang tidak pernah gagal mengingatkan saya akan rahmat-Nya yang berlipat ganda untuk saya dan keluarga. Juga syukur saya untuk semua kesehatan dan kesempatan yang diberikan-Nya.

Meskipun melihat jadwal pertemuan padat merayap seperti antrian beras or lipstick gratis #eh, semua itu tidak membuat saya surut semangat. Justru membuat saya terpacu untuk bisa terus belajar dan memberikan yang terbaik untuk merah putih.


Dan hari ini, setelah memulai pagi dengan morning briefing yang disambung dengan working lunch dan interactive discussions, saya memituskan untuk jalan sebentar, keluar menikmati udara yang menghangat dan menikmati langit biru yang selalu saya cintai.

Dari Markas Besar PBB, saya terus jalan dan naik ke arah Broadway, sampai di Times Square. Lumayan juga jalan 7 blok. Sehat dan membuat hati senang :).



Saya lanjut menyusuri Midtown Manhattan hingga melewati Crysler Building. 


Dan juga Empire State Building yang menjulang tinggi.



Alhamdulillaaah...
Cara sederhana untuk bersyukur,  menikmati karunia-Nya dan insya Allah sehat. 

Teman-teman suka berjalan kaki dan menikmati langit biru juga?

Clear blue sky..selalu membuatku menyebut nama-Nya

Join us on Skywatch Friday and enjoy the beauty of skies in many corners of the world

WW: The Knotted Gun at the United Nations HQ

Violence is indeed the last thing we need in this world..


But the world we live in now, sadly, is frequently shocked by atrocities and flagrant acts of those who have lost their humanity.

no more violence..

And here at the UN, we continue to work on finding the solutions and comon ground to address the rise of radicalization and violent extremism, wherever it is conducted. On whatever basis..identity, culture, religious values or something else.


Made by Carl Fredrik Reutersward...
And this knotted gun, a gift from Luxembourg in 1988, sculpted by Carl  Fredik Reutersward, is a vivid reminder that violence, for whatever reason, wherever it is, be it in Paris, Beirut, Baghdad, Gaza, and any corners of the world, should stop NOW. 

Gift from Luxembourg in 1988...


no more pointing guns....



peace be upon us ....

Is promoting peace and tolerance that difficult?
What is it that makes it so hard to live side by side with others in harmony? 
Because to me, intolerance, and its growing manifestations, only breeds and propagates hatred, division and violence.
The last thing we need in this world....

And never forget... terrorism and violent extremism cannot be attributed to particular religions, nationalities, civilizations or ethnicities. 

Stay safe, everyone...








Happy 70th Anniversary, United Nations!

October 24 is the United Nations Day.
We celebrate it every year  and 2015 is rather special as the UN reaches 70 years of continued works for a stronger institution and eventually, a better world.


happy 70th anniversary..


To commemorate this special event, #UNBlue has been lit in many corners of the world, beautiful engulfing hundreds of landmarks across the globe.
Including in Borobudur temple, Indonesia. 

Borobudur..beautifully lit in UN Blue.. Photo is taken from UNIC flickr


As I am here, we take our time to visit the UN headquarters that day and capture the moment when #UNBlue shines regally in that building.

the UN in UN Blue :)

Together with Bo, I took the liberty to take pictures in the UN Headquarters, where I spend most of my time participating in various global discourses and negotiations, particularly in the field of human rights.

happy birthday UN..

cheers from me and Bo :)

UN Blue and Indonesian blue :)




And we even have the Empire State Building lit in Blue, as we saw it from Long Island City. 

Empire State Building in blue from a far :)

Amidst the many achievements of this intergovernmental organizations, many have thought that the UN hasn't done enough to address so many ongoing issues and conflicts across the globe. 
It might be true, to some extent, to certain cases. 
But can you imagine if the UN doesn't exist?

                                   So keep the hopes soar high.

For a stronger UN.And a better world.


Under One Sky - the 70th Session of the United Nations

This week, New York City will welcome hundreds of Heads of States and Governments from different corners of the world, including my country, Indonesia.

The 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly has started.
Together with the Special Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

gearing up for the UN GA High Level Segment :)

Starting from the 25th of September, we witnessed prominent persons including the Pope himself, His Holiness Pope Francis, Malala, some famous philanthropists like Bill and Melinda Gates, Shakira and many more.

His Holiness Pope Francis before delivering his statement at the UNGA

Malala at the #UNGA 

Of all this glam and famous celebrities, all these high-level events entail endless preparation and sleepless nights ;).
Never forget...VVIPs require VVIPs treatment :).


this way :)


Well, it's part of my work so I got used to it. 
Even during my time in Geneva I have to prepare those high-level visits as well.

Not easy.
Detailed preparation.
And stressful.

But one thing for sure... Amidts my never ending tasks, I always try to sit down and take some pictures.
It really takes my mind off things.
At least for a while.
When I do have time, I'd rather get out of the meeting rooms and sit outside.
Feel the breeze from East River and the sun touching my skin in the Rose Garden :).
Relieving...




This time, I am particularly looking at the blue sky.

Media is getting ready..

And say my prayers...



Hopefully all these works that we are doing here will benefit everyone in this world.
Change the world into a better place.
As we all live under the same sky.

Indah nuria - UN
wish me luck, dear friends...

Wish me luck, dear friends ;)

Join us on Skywatch Friday and enjoy the beauty of God's creation wherever you are..

International Day of Yoga

Anybody enjoys yoga here?

I can hear some say yes and nod their heads :). 
Even those who haven't tried yoga before, have probably heard of it. 

Yoga has been known as a unique set of exercises, derived from the ancient practices in India, aiming at finding the balance for our mind, body, and soul. Even more, yoga offers more "as a way to discover the sense of oneness, with yourself, the world and  nature," as quoted from H.E. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India. 


                       

And the 21st of June has been declared as the International Day of Yoga. 

The international day of yoga
                           
With the unanimous adoption of the UN Resolution on the International Yoga Day, June 21st, which happens to be the solstice,-the longest day during the year, is declared as one. With solid supports from 175 Member States of the UN, GA Resolution 69/131 was successfully adopted. And last weekend was the first inaugural  of International Day of Yoga.

                              


The celebration took place at the United Nations Visitor Center as well as at Times Square.

Bo, Obi and I decided to come to the UN and Bapak dropped us there. It was a bright sunny Sunday indeed and as we arrived there, many have taken the seats and mats provided for the first celebration of the international day of Yoga. I was lucky I could squeezed myself in there between the students while Bo et Obi happily sat in the reserved section.

The celebration started with many speeches, I have to say :). 

some of the dignitaries...
With dignitaries like the Indian Minister of External Affairs, the 69th UNGA President, congresswoman, and the UN Secretary-General, the proceedings highlighted how yoga has and will continue to bring health, joy, peace and happiness to humankind.

Keynote address from the UN Secretary-General
We also saw some videos showcasing the beauty of yoga and its endless benefits.

After that, we had the priviledge of having Sri  Sri Ravi Shankar, one of the most renowned yoga gurus and the founder of the Art of Living, led us with some basic postures of yoga. Even the UN SG and Madame Ban joined us on their mats :).

Mr. and Mrs Ban Ki-moon were ready on their mats :)
It was a great celebration indeed.
Although it was a sunny bright morning and Bo and I were fasting, but we managed to enjoy this light exercise which suited our Ramadhan day.

It was too hot for Obi :)
As for me, I was introduced to yoga while I was studying in Melbourne back in 2007. 
Since then I have been a great fan, trying to work on it although I have some time off.

I am still amateur for sure, but always enjoy my yoga sessions at home as well as with some friends and instructors, especialy after series of treatments that I have to go through with my breast cancer. It certainly brings health, peace and joy for me. My hubby, Udi, ocassionally joins me and has the yoga session together. It's fun indeed..

So, do you like yoga as well?