UNO - Current Affairs for February, 2017

Noted singer Neeti Mohan has become the first Indian female singer to collaborate with UN for women empowerment, joining Ashton Kutcher, Nicholas Cage, Demi Moore, Ashley Judd, Gillian Anderson for United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund project titled “Music To Inspire - Artists UNited Against Human Trafficking”.

She has composed Udne De as a tribute to all the women and in support of equality for all as a part of this project.

Over 60 renowned artists and dignitaries from around the world have collaborated with Rukus Avenue to participate in the “Music To Inspire - Artists UNited Against Human Trafficking” triple album.

This benefits the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons, managed by the UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime).

This is a collective fight by the music community to make a social statement and end human trafficking.

A 60+ track collection of inspiring music, will be officially released at an event at the United Nations headquarters in New York City this week.

Neeti had written Udne De during the Nirbhaya incident that happened in 2012.

Some of the other participants appearing on this project include:

• AR Rahman,
• Former President Jimmy Carter and
• Actress Tatyana Ali
• Joss Stone,
• Michael Franti,
• Vanessa Carlton,
• Anoushka Shankar,
• Ellis Hall,
• Garbage,
• Karmin
• Daryl Hall & John Oates

• On November 4, 2010, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons.
• This is to provide humanitarian, legal and financial aid to victims of human trafficking.
• The aim involves increasing the number of those rescued and supported, and broadening the extent of assistance they receive.
• The Fund was established in accordance with resolution A/RES/64/293 Article 38 of the General Assembly on 12 August 2010.
• This is part of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons.
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is designated as the Fund Manager for the Fund.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in a unique initiative has partnered with UNICEF India to publish a Resource Book.

This will serve as a ready reference for all the Stakeholders dealing with child rights and child protection issues .

The book which was released recently by Supreme Court Judge, Justice Madan B. Lokur clearly defines the roles of the Commissions with their responsibilities for catalysing systematic changes for advancement of child rights.

The resource book also provides a brief frame work for examining and understanding contemporary child rights issues, in addition to those mentioned in the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.

The 343-page, lucidly written publication clearly defines the roles of the Commissions as quasi-judicial statutory bodies and the co-ordination mechanism with other important stake holders like:

• Child Welfare Committees,
• Juvenile Justice Boards,
• Law Enforcement Agencies and
• the Judiciary.