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I am Mona, a Jordanian residing in the Shouneh region of southern Jordan, near the Dead Sea. I am a young climate advocate specializing in environmental justice and gender equality. I collaborate with UNICEF as a youth skills empowerment trainer. I aim to raise awareness about climate change and the gendered impacts it has on my community.

Acknowledging that severe drought affects Africa more than any other continent, leaders at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi have put forward a common vision for drought resilience in the run up to the next climate and desertification summits — UNFCCC COP28 in November 2023 and UNCCD COP16 in December 2024. The objective is to reduce the costs of future droughts for societies and economies through strategic investments in sustainable land and water management.

UN conference to tackle rapid land degradation and worsening droughts to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 13-17 November 2023 Bonn/Samarkand, 13 September 2023 – For the first time since its inception, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will convene one of its official meetings in Central Asia. The twenty-first session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 21) will reveal the latest global trends in land degradation and drought, and review how countries are progressing with land restoration. It comes at a vital moment, when the world is witnessing an uptick in extreme weather events, with historic heatwaves and wildfires across Europe and North America, several failed rainy seasons in the Horn of Africa, and devastating floods, monsoons and cyclones in Asia. Land degradation contributes to these climatic changes and events and is simultaneously made worse by them. Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary, said: “We are at a crucial juncture in our efforts to sustain life on land. Droughts, wildfires and heatwaves we have witnessed around the world are the symptoms of the deepening and interlinked climate and nature crises, with land at the heart of both. Since 2015, some 4 million square kilometres of healthy and productive lands have been lost—an area roughly the size of Central Asia. We must urgently stop further land degradation and restore at least 1 billion hectares to meet global land targets by 2030.” The meeting will be held at the Silk Road Samarkand Congress Centre in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 13 to 17 November 2023. On 15 November, there will be a high-level event on sand and dust storms, many of which have occurred in Uzbekistan and surrounding countries and regions with increasing frequency and severity in recent years. In addition, the UNCCD Gender Caucus on 14 November will convene international experts to discuss women’s land rights as a prerequisite to the success of global land restoration and drought resilience efforts. According to the latest UN data, between 2015 and 2019, at least 100 million hectares of healthy and productive land were degraded every year, affecting food and water security globally and directly impacting the lives of 1.3 billion people. This adds up to 420 million hectares, or 4.2 million square kilometres, slightly over the combined area of five Central Asian nations: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. If current trends continue, restoring 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030 will be necessary to achieve a land-degradation-neutral world. Alternatively, halting any new land degradation and accelerating existing commitments to restore 1 billion hectares can surpass the neutrality target. CRIC21 will review progress in implementing the Convention’s strategic objectives on promoting sustainable land management, building drought resilience, supporting women's leadership in sustainable agriculture, and addressing forced migration due to land degradation and climate change. It will bring together representatives from 196 countries and the European Union which are signatories to the UNCCD, as well as civil society, academia and international organizations. Notes to editors  Accredited media representatives are invited to attend and report on CRIC21 and associated events. Field visits where journalists can see land restoration and drought resilience projects will take place immediately prior to CRIC21. Online registration for media representatives is available at the following link: www.unccd.int/cric-21-online-registration. To register, please provide the following documents: One recent passport-sized photograph A valid press card A copy (picture and signature pages) of your passport (for foreign journalists) or national identity card (for local applicants) A letter of introduction from the bureau chief or company sponsoring your travel to the session. For freelance journalists, a letter is required from the media organization assigning you to cover the conference A duly completed accreditation form Journalists who register online will be able to collect their accreditation at the Silk Road Samarkand Congress Center on presentation of a valid press card and an identity document. For more information on the regulations governing visa applications and the introduction of reporting material into Uzbekistan, please consult the following link: https://e-visa.gov.uz/main_ For inquiries about media accreditation or coverage of the event, please contact: press@unccd.int A dedicated press and media working space will be available at the conference venue.  Additional information and media updates on the Convention and CRIC 21 will be available on the host country CRIC 21 website and the UNCCD website. About UNCCD The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land. We unite governments, scientists, policymakers, private sector and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world’s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. Much more than an international treaty signed by 197 Parties, UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to mitigating today’s impacts of land degradation and advancing tomorrow’s land stewardship in order to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner. Image: (c) Asia Development Bank

В ноябре 2023 года встреча Комитета по рассмотрению осуществления Конвенции ООН по борьбе с опустыниванием и засухой (КРОК КБО ООН) впервые пройдет в одной из стран Центральной Азии. Мы приглашаем русскоязычных журналистов, в особенности из стран подверженных негативном последствиям засухи, опустынивания, пыльных и песчаных бурь, принять участие в освещении работы 21-ой сессии КРОК. Центрально-азиатская встреча станет ключевым моментом для обзора прогресса, достигнутого в регионе по предотвращению и обращению вспять потери продуктивных земель в результате опустынивания, деградации земель и засухи.   Представители Сторон КБО ООН соберутся в Самарканде (Узбекистан) с 13 по 17 ноября 2023г., чтобы рассмотреть ход реализации стратегических целей конвенции по устойчивому управлению земельными ресурсами, устойчивости к засухе, борьбе с песчаными и пыльным бурями, поддержке лидерства женщин в устойчивом развитии сельского хозяйства и решение проблем, связанных с вынужденной миграцией. Ожидается, что в мероприятии примут участие представители национальных, региональных и местных органов власти, гражданского общества, научного сообщества, международных организаций и всех видов СМИ.   Для освещения работы КРОК в состав пресс-службы при КБО OОН войдут пять русскоязычных журналистов из региона Центральной Азии. Члены пресс-службы примут участие не только в самой конференции, но и предшествующем ей медиа-тренинге. В программу работы пресс-службы войдет ряд специально разработанных мероприятий, включающих информационный семинар по ключевым направлениям работы КБО, экскурсии для ознакомления с успешными проектами по землевосстановлению и засухоустойчивости, а также встречи с региональными экспертами.  Срок подачи заявок до 8 октября 2023 г., кандидаты будут выбраны и оповещены к 15 октября 2023 г.   Кандидаты должны соответствовать следующим требованиям:   быть профессиональным журналистом или представителем ведущего СМИ из региона Центральной Азии  профессионально владеть русским языком  иметь опыт освещения экологических проблем и четко представлять, какие материалы они могут быть подготовлены во время участия в конференции  иметь возможность и желание лично приехать в Узбекистан для участия в конференции КРОК21 и предварительном медиа-тренинге на полный срок проведения этих мероприятий   взять на себя обязательство участвовать во всех мероприятиях пресс-службы  предоставить письмо поддержки от редактора, продюсера или руководителя СМИ, подтверждающее возможность публикации или трансляции вашего материала в одном из ведущих СМИ  фрилансеры могут подавать заявки, но должны предоставить сходное письмо от редакции, обязующейся опубликовать материалы о КРОК  Каждый заявитель должен направить следующие документы на электронный адрес press@unccd.int, с пометкой “Russian media fellowship CRIC21” до 8 октября 2023:  вступительное письмо с просьбой о финансовой поддержке и указанием того, какие темы будет освещать журналист  копия пресс-карты или другого аналогичного официального документа, подтверждающего профессиональный статус  копии страниц с фотографией и подписью в паспорте, действительном не менее чем до 31 мая 2024 года  разрешение работодателя на участие и освещение заседаний, для штатных сотрудников  кандидатам настоятельно рекомендуется представить независимые доказательства наличия вышеуказанных компетенций, например:  a) ссылки на опубликованные статьи – чем больше, тем лучше  б) рекомендательное письмо от редактора СМИ, в котором соискатель ранее публиковался  в) письмо от редакции, обязующейся опубликовать материалы о КРОК  г) рекомендательные письма от коллег из ООН, чьи мероприятия они освещали в прошлом  В числе покрываемых расходов – невозвратный авиабилет эконом-класса, гостиница, питание и транспортные расходы. Мы также окажем содействие в аккредитации и организации поездки и пребывания. Обращаем ваше внимание на то, что получение необходимых виз является обязанностью самого кандидата, однако соответствующие расходы могут быть компенсированы.   Участникам необходимо учитывать, что форс-мажорные обстоятельства, не зависящие от организаторов, могут воспрепятствовать участию отобранных журналистов в конференции. 

Let us take this opportunity to congratulate China and the League of Arab States on the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the China-Arab international research center on drought, desertification and land degradation that will be signed at the end of this session and welcome its potential contributions to the Middle East green initiatives.

Bonn/Vancouver, 28 August 2023 -- The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is launching a new virtual exhibition titled Her Land to showcase the transformative power of women’s leadership in sustainable land management. The exhibition was unveiled at the 7th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility in Vancouver, Canada. Through immersive experiences and rich imagery in the digital realm, Her Land campaign harnesses the creative power of visual artists and musicians who support UNCCD to put the spotlight on the struggles and successes of women living on the frontlines of desertification, drought and climate change.  The campaign calls on governments to deliver policies that guarantee secure land tenure, motivates businesses to invest in gender-focused land restoration projects and invites the public to share stories that illustrate the bond that women share with the land they nurture. The virtual exhibition in support of Her Land campaign is spearheaded and curated by Malian artist and UNCCD Goodwill Ambassador Inna Modja. UNCCD Executive Secretary, Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, commented on the campaign's ethos, "Her Land initiative transcends being merely a message. It embodies a movement, urging us to venerate the women, the land's true guardians." In the words of Inna Modja: “We must dare to invent the future. I saw that dare come to life in the resilience and bravery of communities, and within them, the fierce strength of women, relentlessly fighting to protect their land, their homes, their communities. The empowerment of women is absolutely necessary in our fight against land degradation and desertification.” Through the creative efforts of Inna Modja and Marco Conti Sikic, the campaign brings together immersive digital experiences, poignant photography and artful videos to engage and unite participants in support of a future in which women's rights to land are recognized and their contributions are celebrated.  Her Land campaign has been made possible through the generous support of the Canadian Government, the European Commission, and the Republic of Korea through the Changwon Initiative. Canada's transformative contribution of $6 million CAD is part of the country’s pioneering International Feminist International Assistance Policy that aims to advance gender equality as the cornerstone of a progressive and harmonious society.  Canada’s contribution supports the implementation of projects under UNCCD Gender Action Plan as well as meetings of the Gender Caucus during the biennial Conferences of the Parties to UNCCD.  The European Commission’s contribution aims to raise awareness on responsible land governance among all stakeholders and to promote more equal access to land and land tenure security for men and women as well as other vulnerable populations, including indigenous peoples and local communities. For its part, the Changwon Initiative, named after the UNCCD COP10 venue and coordinated by the Korea Forest Service, enables the UNCCD to be the global voice for land. The Initiative supports the Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Programme, through which over 100 countries have set voluntary national targets to restore degraded lands.