A Week in Review: United Nations International Days

October 2, 2020
A Week in Review: United Nations International Days

Looking at this week in review, the global community celebrated three fundamental international days that commemorated key issues influencing health, from food to non-violence. First, the global community celebrated the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste on September 29, moving towards action to reduce the 14 percent food loss that occurs between harvest and retail. Public interventions by individuals, waste reduction by private actors, and innovative business models will be essential to make this goal a reality. To find out more, check out the State of Food and Agriculture report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which explores the causes of food loss and waste and ways to create interventions for more sustainable livelihoods. 

Sustainable livelihoods can go beyond just food, extending to ways in which society fosters a sense of community for all individuals and ensures they have agency over their health while still receiving the support they need. October 1 marks the International Day of Older Persons, with this year’s celebration designed to promote awareness about the “Decade of Healthy Ageing.” This initiative aims to reduce health disparities in older persons—defined in this context as individuals aged 60 or older—so as to “leave no one behind.” Increasing appreciation, awareness, and actionable solutions to care for the unique health needs of older persons will be integral to creating more cohesive societies. This directly aligns with the goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, manifested in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS). The intersection of aging and SDGs can be explored through the United Nations (UN) report, Ageing, Older Persons and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Social cohesion is an ideal that is being reflected upon on the International Day of Non-Violence, observed on October 2, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, a leader of the Indian independence movement and a champion of the philosophy and implementation of non-violence in actions. This day calls for public awareness and a shared understanding of common humanity, to promote peace and nonviolence for better health for all societies. Explore the Incubator’s teaching cases on medical peace work to delve deeper into this critical topic.