Friday, 8 October, 10:00am to 12:30pm, Universal Postal Union (UPU) headquarters
World Post Day is celebrated each year to raise awareness of the Post's role in the everyday lives of people and businesses, as well as its enormous contribution to global social and economic development. This year, the theme for World Post Day is “Innovate to Recover.”On 9 August, police announced that postal workers at a sorting facility in the town of Peschiera, Borromeo, near Milan, had discovered three pistol bullets in a letter addressed to Pope Francis. To recognize the bravery and courageousness of postal workers everywhere, the UPU will give a special award to Poste Italiane.
The UPU's Integrated Index for Postal Development (2IPD) provides an overview of postal development around the globe. The results for 2020 cover 168 countries and reveal the performance of posts around the world, shedding light on how to foster postal development and maximize the efficiency of postal infrastructure.
Since 1971, the UPU has encouraged young writers aged 9-15 to write letters on a given theme to win exciting prizes. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the UPU’s International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People. To celebrate this anniversary, we have chosen the “Best of the Best” letter from all first-prize winners.
For the first time on World Post Day, the ceremony will also feature an interactive session involving Government ministers and the CEOs of postal operators on how the international postal sector is innovating to recover from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Schedule of events:
10:00 a.m.: Opening Ceremony featuring the message of the UN Secretary-General
10:25 a.m.: “Innovate to Recover” Interactive storytelling session with postal operators
11:15 a.m.: Poste Italiane recognition for the discovery of bullets sent to Pope Francis
11:30 a.m.: 2IPD Awards
12:00 a.m.: “Best of the Best” of the International Letter Writing Competition for Young People
12:30 p.m.: Closing Ceremony
Journalists can watch the proceedings via https://tv.upu.int
The Universal Postal Union is a UN specialized agency with its headquarters in the Swiss capital Berne. Established in 1874, it is one of the world’s oldest international organizations and is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players.
* *** *
For further information, please contact:
David Dadge
Programme Manager, Communication and Events Programme
UPU
Mobile: +41 76 457 36 54
E-mail: david.dadge[@]upu.int