Newsletter of the global network of United Nations Information Centres UNIC @ Work November 2016 Issue No. 10
In this issue
. In Spotlight New, innovative projects . Sights @ Work A tour of where we work . In Focus Get to know our priorities . Teams @ Work Highlights of our activities . Creativity @ Work New information materials . Social Media @ Work Social media initiatives . Experiences @ Work Staff views and experiences . New Faces @ Work Our new colleagues
In Spotlight ¿Did you know? Sustainable Development Goals promoted at Japan’s largest fashion event “Tokyo Girls A study using data from 219 Collection” countries from 1970 to 2009 found that, for every one additional year of To commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals, UNIC Tokyo education for women of reproductive supported the Autumn/Winter Tokyo Girls Collection fashion show in September 2016 with 17 of age, child mortality decreased by 9.5 Japan’s top models advocating the importance of the Goals to approximately 31,000 guests and per cent. over 1 million online streamers.
Sights @ Work
Mexico: This fisherman is looking for the catch of the India: The Taj Mahal which means “Crown of the Palace” is a United States: The UN Headquarters in New York. marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in day in the early morning at Playa Azul (Blue Beach) in Michoacán State, Mexico. Lazaro The four buildings are on international territory the Indian city of Agra. The tomb was commissioned in 1632 and include: the Secretariat, the General by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned 1628–1658), to Cardenas_Mich_Pescador by UNIC Mexico/A. Nieto Assembly, Conference Area (including Council house of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is the centrepiece Chambers) and the Library. of a 42-acre complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and has formal gardens as well. .
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In Focus
Memorable visit to UNICs Harare and Windhoek
I was greeted at the United Nations Information Centres (UNICs) in Harare and Windhoek by the very visible Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) banners and posters.
“It is very nice to welcome a colleague from our Headquarters to the Centre”, commented the National Information Officer of UNIC Windhoek, Anthea Basson, appreciating the visit which both Centres noted was overdue.
Of course it was nice to be back at UNIC Harare, home, where I started my career with the UN. My colleagues at the Centre were eager to share with me their impressive work in Zimbabwe which I immediately saw through the visuals decorating the walls and the SDGs products they handed me. The story was right in front of me, showing also the diverse audiences that are part of UNIC Harare’s activities, including Government, media, youth and civil society among many others.
The interaction with the students began with a short video on how the UN contributes to peace worldwide through peacekeeping operations. It was now time for the students to reflect on what they had learned by writing a postcard to a student outside Namibia explaining the young people’s role in maintaining and keeping peace. The writings shared with the group later were so personal and touching, For instance, one read “I now understand and know how vital peace is for me and you to continue My interaction with the UN Communications Group in Zimbabwe during with our education to contribute to the development of both our its monthly meeting introduced me to how the UN System, together with countries, and the world at large”. the Government, have aligned the SDGs to existing national development plans and development cooperation framework. UNIC Windhoek was going to send the postcards to several selected countries through UNICs and start a viable peace pals’ network. “The 71st anniversary of the UN provided yet another unique platform to advance the ongoing discourse and public mobilization for the My visit underlined how so much is happening out there with the implementation of the SDGs”, said the Coordination Adviser in the passionate and professional contribution of the UNICs. A visit to the Resident Coordinator’s Officer. Centres opened my eyes even wider to the realities that colleagues go through on the ground. As noted by the National Information Officer of In Namibia, the focus of the UN Country Team is also the SDGs and UNIC Harare, Tafadzwa Mwale, “we need such visits regularly, to poverty eradication. effectively communicate with each other, in addition to the other channels of communication”. The highlight of my visit to UNIC Windhoek was the educational outreach at a local school focusing on peace and the role of young people. UNIC Staff distributed their peace pals post card which has all the 17 SDGs with a caption ‘writing for sustainable development’. Goal 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions stands out on the post-card to signify the focus on peace.
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in mid-August and the negative effects of Teams @ Work this incarceration on the detainees, Highlights of our activities particularly on children. In other parts of the Pacific, she highlighted disability rights and violence against women as Argentina central to her work. UNIC also interviewed a representative for UN Radio, 14 September.
Summit for Refugees and Migrants
Ahead of the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants, UNIC Buenos Aires, along with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and International “Sustainable Brands” Meeting Organization for Migration regional offices, organized a press conference to The Director of UNIC Buenos Aires was a discuss and analyse the reality of refugees keynote speaker during the “Sustainable Visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on and migrants in Argentina, the Americas Brands Buenos Aires” meeting, a the situation of Human Rights and the world. Representatives from the renowned event in the country on issues Defenders to Australia national government and UN agencies of sustainability. Her presentation on the were part of the panel of experts, Sustainable Development Goals agenda UNIC Canberra assisted with logistical moderated by the UNIC Director. Seven and what it means for the private sector arrangements and organised a press media representatives attended the event was made in front of an audience of over conference for the Special Rapporteur on and four articles came out as a result. 1,000 people and was widely echoed on Human Rights Defenders during his visit to Australia. The press conference was social media. Launched in 2006, Australia “Sustainable Brands” is a global learning, well attended and media coverage was collaboration, and commerce community widespread throughout Australia, the of forward-thinking business and brand region and globally, 4 to 18 October. strategy, marketing, innovation and Armenia sustainability professionals, who seek to enable brands to shift the world to a sustainable economy, 13 September.
Visit by the Regional Representative for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Australia
UNIC Canberra arranged a diplomatic briefing with the Regional Representative Educational Outreach Event at Berd for the UN High Commissioner for Human High School Rights during her visit to Australia. The Representative spoke about human rights UNO Yerevan joined the Office for the challenges across the Pacific, including a Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, recent visit to the Nauru detention centre
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World Food Programme and the Office of In the framework of the International the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Decade for People of African Descent, on a fact-finding and outreach mission to UNO Yerevan organized an interactive the town of Berd in the north-east Tavush event for the high school students of Berd province of Armenia. The aim was to visit town of Tavush Province. After a brief the border-line communities raising introduction on Africa, tolerance, racism public awareness among youth on the and human rights the students watched a World Humanitarian Agenda, “One film. This was followed by an interactive Humanity” campaign, and the Sustainable role play where the students displayed Development Goals. About 60 students their negotiation skills. In the end they participated in the “World’s Largest received promotional materials prepared Ciné-ONU Vienna screening of “The Lesson” educational event, 28 August to on the Decade, 30September. Anthropologist” September. Austria UNIS Vienna devoted its monthly Ciné- ONU Vienna series to the impact of climate change on indigenous communities around the world by screening the documentary The Anthropologist. More than 250 people joined the Ciné-ONU screening and three additional screenings, engaging with the Co-director of the film, Seth Kramer, and International Literacy Day in Dilijan other experts in a lively discussion after the film. UNIS Vienna also arranged for On the occasion of International Literacy Celebration of Peace Day with “Young interviews with local media and UN Radio, Day, UNO Yerevan jointly with the Central Danube Bridges Vienna” 26 September. Bank of Armenia Knowledge for Development Centre in Dilijan, organized More than 45 young people from six another “World’s Largest Lesson” for the different countries in the Danube Region high-school students of Dilijan and six of gathered in Vienna to take part in an its surrounding communities focusing event called “Young Danube Bridges specifically on Goal 4 – Quality Education. Vienna” and joined a special programme Over 100 students, teachers and parents at the UN to mark the International Day of participated in this event demonstrating Peace. UNIS Vienna offered a free guided their enthusiasm in finding solutions for tour and a lecture on peace and the Goals, the problems raised, 4 September. inviting the participants to take pictures with their preferred Sustainable Development Goals and share on social “Long Day of Flight” Event media, 15 September. UNIS Vienna's Visitors Service, in cooperation with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, organized for a young Afghan journalist to tell his story to a group of teenagers visiting the Vienna International Centre, about his life as a refugee in Austria. The discussion was part of a special interactive tour on human rights. About 130 high school International Decade for People of students participated in the special tours, African Descent in Tavush Province 30 September.
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Bahrain jointly with ASA University Bangladesh, in cooperation with UNIC Dhaka and other organized a discussion and poster local partners, organized a roundtable exhibition at ASA University. UNIC discussion. UNIC National Information National Information Officer was the key Officer spoke on the occasion. A full-page speaker while the Dean of Law at ASA supplement on the roundtable was University presided over the discussion. published by the newspaper on 1 October. The resource persons were communications officers of the Belgium International Organization for Migration and the Office for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Around 100 students took part in the discussion. A day-long poster exhibition was also part Commemoration of the International of the event, 21 September. Day of Peace
UNIC Manama commemorated the International Day of Peace with the support of Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Al Areen Lions Club, the Bikes vs Cars Ciné-ONU Screening International Social Media Club and the UN Country Team, through the launch of a The UN Regional Information Centre speech-writing contest for youth on the partnered with the UN Environment subject of "World Peace and Sustainable Programme and UN-Habitat to bring Fredrik Gertten’s film Bikes vs Cars to Development". This was to raise Sustainable Development Goals Brussels’ bike enthusiasts and Ciné-ONU awareness on the Sustainable Discussion Series in Rajshahi Development Goals in the country and fans. The event highlighted European region. The event was attended by several UNIC Dhaka organized a discussion on the “Mobility Week” and the “Habitat III dignitaries, including officials from the SDGs in Rajshahi District as part of nation- Conference”. Bikes vs Cars is a Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UN wide discussion series and youth documentary about the bike and what an Resident Coordinator and representatives engagement programme. UNIC National amazing tool for change it can be, 21 from the UN Country Team, Al Areen Information Officer was the main speaker September. Lions Club and the International Social while more than 100 students took part in Media Club, 21 September. the discussion session. Each of the participants was provided with a copy of Bangladesh the SDGs postcard in Bangla and UN publications, 29 September.
“Pop-Up Street Art” Campaign to Highlight UN Summit on Refugees and
Migrants Poster Exhibition and Discussion on UN Roundtable Discussion on Refugees and Migrants Summit International Day of Older Persons A “Pop-Up Street Art” campaign to highlight the UN Summit on Refugees and In connection with UN Summit on In observance of International Day of Migrants in various Belgian cities was Refugees and Migrants, UNIC Dhaka, Older Persons, Daily Alokito Bangladesh, organized by the UN Regional Information November 2016
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Centre (UNRIC) Benelux Desk, together Cameroon with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and International Organization for Migration. UNRIC asked urban artists to express themselves creatively on the situation of refugees and migrants, in live public spaces throughout the country and ending at the Belgian coast, a first entry point for many refugees in Europe, 15 to 17 September. Peace Agreement between Government Discussion on Sustainable of Colombia and the Revolutionary Development Goals as Building Blocks Armed Forces of Colombia-People's for Peace in Cameroon Army
UNIC Yaounde and the UN Association of In the framework of the historic peace Cameroon co-organized a discussion on signature, UNIC Bogota provided “The Sustainable Development Goals: assistance on an official press briefing, Building Blocks for Peace” at the National recording audio and interviews, taking Commission for UN Educational, Scientific pictures and giving support to the office of and Cultural Organization. UNIC showed the Spokesperson of the UN Secretary- how respective goals tackled the root Common Priorities on the Sustainable General, for the signing of the peace causes of conflicts for peace. Participants Development Goals agreement between the Government of were enlightened on how achieving the Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed A large delegation of the World goals would consolidate peace, 20 Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC- Federation of Consuls (FICAC) visited the September. EP), 26 September. UN Regional Information Centre for a Colombia discussion on common priorities with a Iran special focus on the Sustainable Development Goals. The delegation was headed by FICAC President and its General Secretary. Founded in 1982, FICAC is a forum that brings together 87 consular associations and corps from all around the globe, 29 September.
Iranian Celebrities launch “Together for SDGs” Campaign
Commemoration of International Day The “Together for Sustainable of Indigenous Peoples Development Goals (SDGs)” ambitious nation-wide campaign was launched at a UNIC Bogota, jointly with the Ministry of press conference in Tehran by renowned Education and Interior, developed a Iranian artists. Its purpose was to three-hour workshop about the introduce the SDGs to the Iranian Sustainable Development Goals at Puerto public. UNIC Tehran enlisted Iranian Estrella, with 60 leaders of the Wuayúu celebrities to reframe the 17 SDGs into a Indigenous community, 10 September. language which tells a story and is both personal and emotional. In short video clips, the renowned Iranian movie, theatre
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and music stars promoted the 17 SDGs, students of the Kazakh-German University using social networks and traditional from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, media, spreading SDGs messages among Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The event millions of their fans and general took place at the UN building in Almaty. public. All the clips are available on The main topics of the discussion were theUNIC website and were posted on the Sustainable Development Goals, social media. especially a lack of water resources in the region and its implication on the future Japan prospects of sustainable development in Central Asia, 9 September.
International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons n
In an effort to commemorate the International Day of Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (26 September), UNIC Tokyo and Japan NGO Network for Nuclear Weapons Abolition hosted an event on global nuclear disarmament. International Day of Peace
Satomi Nakamura, the producer of Aogiri, Aichi International Women’s Film UNO Almaty and University students in a film based on the atomic bombing of Festival 2016 Almaty jointly celebrated with a Hiroshima, introduced her movie. This discussion, the International Day of Peace. UNIC this year again for the third time, was followed by a panel discussion on the Students presented a short video that they partnered with the Aichi International elimination of nuclear weapons by seven had produced for the event. During the Women’s Film Festival to organize a joint panelists from various fields ranging from discussion, participants raised questions public event during the festival to screen government to victims and youth, 25 related to the global, regional as well as the film “He Named Me Malala”, followed September. country activities on various UN related by a panel session to discuss topics. A representative of the UN empowerment of women. UNIC Tokyo Kazakhstan Information Office, Heads of Diplomatic Director referred to Malala’s message and Missions, media as well as partners from stressed the importance of girls’ Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Israel, education to realize a better future by Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Germany, and linking it to the Sustainable Development Canada participated in the event, 21 Goals, 8 September. September.
Roundtable on Sustainable Development Goals
UNO Almaty, in cooperation with the UN Environment Programme and UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, organized a roundtable with
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attracted youth leaders from Kenya and the media, including social media the region. UN Secretary- General and platforms, and placed on the websites, 22 UNESCO Director General’s messages August. were presented at the ceremony. The discussion was around the theme: “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace”, focusing on the Eastern Africa region, 21 September.
Georgia
New Silk Way Model UN – Training of Trainers
UNO Almaty and the Al-Farabi Kazakh Discussion and film screening on National University – a UN Academic International Youth Day Impact Global Hub on Sustainability organized the New Silk Way Model UN UNO Tbilisi, together with the European training of trainers at the University’s Law Student Association in Georgia and Faculty of Journalism. The main topics the Training Centre of Justice of Georgia, were the General Assembly and Security organized a screening of the videos “What Sustainable Development Goals Council proceedings, 17 Sustainable Sustainable Living Means to Me, Voices on Briefing Series Development Goals (SDGs), 25th Sustainable Development from Asia and the Anniversary of the Independence of the UNO Tbilisi and Education and Pacific, and Voices of Youth on Social Republic of Kazakhstan and future Development Academy jointly conducted Justice”, and follow-up discussion in an activities of Kazakhstan as a non- a series of discussions for representatives effort to enhance awareness and permanent member of the UN Security of local government, media and youth in prioritization of youth issues, 12 August. Council (2017-2018), 15 September. Tbilisi and other regions about the work Germany of the UN and the Sustainable Kenya Development Goals, 25 May to 30 September.
UNRIC/ photokina 2’ East African Youth celebrate Road Safety Awareness Campaign “The UN at 70” Photo Exhibition International Day of Peace Video
Under the theme “The UN at 70”, 53 The UN Educational, Scientific and UNO Tbilisi partnered with the Ministry of powerful pictures from the UN photo Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Youth Interior Affairs of Georgia to produce a library were presented at the world’s Forum, in partnership with UNIC Nairobi video on road safety within the largest photo fair in Cologne/Germany. and Kenya National Commission for framework of the public awareness The compelling photos offered a unique UNESCO, organized a youth panel campaign “For Your Own Sake, For Your decade-by-decade view of the UN’s work. discussion to celebrate the International Safety!” The video that featured the UN The UN photo exhibition was presented Day of Peace. The interactive event Resident Coordinator was circulated in
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by the International Photographic Council, Sustainable Development Goals 16 and 17. in coordination with the Department of It includes a series of activities that will be Public Information,. UNRIC Brussels implemented throughout the year which promoted the event, 20 to 25 September. started on the International Day of Peace. They also include the launch of the first Bolivia publication of its kind in Lebanon, Middle East and North Africa region, “Media, Peace and the Environment” book and the organization of the 6th Annual Peace Journalism Workshop revolving around Celebrating International Day of Peace human rights reporting, 2 September. through Talent Show
To mark the International Day of Peace, Media Association for Peace organized a talent show, in partnership with UNIC Beirut and MasterPeace Club, bringing together young talents who called for UN Bolivia at La Paz International Book peace through different art forms. The Fair “Arts Talent Show” – organized as part of
the “Festival du Bois des Pins”, in The UN in Bolivia presented a unified stand showcasing the work of specific collaboration with Assabil, Nahnoo, the agencies, funds and programmes working Launch of First Family Fun Festival Nawaya Network, and Junior Chamber in the country. Coordinated by UNIC La International NGOs - saw the participation Paz, the UN System centered its attention UNIC Beirut launched the first Family Fun of young men and women who expressed on projecting the Sustainable Festival in Lebanon to promote awareness their desire for peace and prosperity by Development Goals towards young on the importance of strong family bonds dancing, singing and playing music, 18 audiences during the 10-day-long event. and a healthy and sustainable September.
environment, and increase knowledge on Lebanon the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families. The four-day festival, which included numerous attractions, activities, games, educational and awareness workshops for people of all ages, in addition to an exquisite food area and a big exhibition area for Lebanese and international products, attracted more than 15,000 visitors across Annual National Young Entrepreneurs Lebanon who enjoyed quality time Competition together, 8 September. NGO INJAZ Lebanon organized this year’s annual national Young Entrepreneurs UNIC Beirut Launches One-year Competition (YEC) 2016, in collaboration Partnership with Media Association for with UNIC Beirut. Seven teams of students Peace from various schools and universities UNIC Beirut launched a one-year across Beirut, Mount Lebanon and North partnership with Lebanon-based “Media Lebanon competed in front of a jury that Association for Peace” (MAP). The included the UNIC Acting Director. The partnership aims at promoting the role of “company award” was granted to one the media in advocating for peace, and university and one school team who will contributing to the implementation of represent Lebanon and compete against November 2016
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13 other Arab countries at the INJAZ Al- Development Goals was also organized in Mexico Arab’s Regional Young Entrepreneurs Mantasoa with local youth, 21 September. Competition to be held in November 2016 in Bahrain, 1 October. Morocco
Madagascar
Session to Analyse the results and impact of the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants
As part of its series of live Facebook
sessions to promote UN activities, UNIC
. Briefing for Visiting United States Mexico City organized a session to analyse Promoting UN Summit for Refugees Students the results and impact of the UN Summit and Migrants for Refugees and Migrants held on 19 UNIC Rabat Acting Director briefed a September at UN Headquarters. The Within the framework of the 71st UN group of students from the Washington session reached a total of 23.3K viewers. General Assembly, UNIC Antananarivo university in Seattle, United States who UNIC Mexico City Director conducted the ensured national visibility of the UN were on a study trip in Morocco about the session at the UNIC premises with the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants, role of UNICs within the UN system in High Commissioner for Refugees and following the UN Department of Public Morocco and worldwide , 2 September. International Organization for Migration Information’s WebEx media session to Representatives for Mexico, 20 announce the Summit. Thanks to the September. session and material dissemination, the Summit had extensive media coverage, 19 Nigeria September.
Press Conference on the UN Summit on Refugees and Migrants
In preparation for the UN Summit on UNIC Lagos Develops Cartoons for Refugees and Migrants, UNIC Rabat held a Sustainable Development Goals Icons press conference for national and foreign Youth Photo and Drawing Contests for In its quest to put a human face to the press, in partnership with the Morocco Peace Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offices of the UN High Commissioner for and bring the global goals to the Nigerian Refugees and the International UNIC Antananarivo organized photo and grassroots, UNIC Lagos developed a Organization for Migration, to highlight drawing contests on peace for youth. cartoon version of the SDGs icons. The the Summit as well as the UN-Morocco UNIC also participated in the Walk for cartoon icons seek to increase awareness partnership on the issues of migration and Peace by the UN Development Programme and enhance the understanding of the refugees, 15 September. as well as volunteering for social work goals across the various socio-economic and cultural activities. A workshop on strata. The cartoons are very useful leadership and the Sustainable during educational outreach to schools.
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Pakistan Peru
Making People the Focus of Democracy and Sustainable Development “We the People, We the Arts” Visit to the Province of Arequipa Competition UNIC Lagos and its partners marked the The National Information Officer of UNIC International Day of Democracy with a UNIC Islamabad visited the leading art Lima visited the province of Arequipa panel discussion. In his statement, the schools in Pakistan and participated as where he visited several universities and National Information Officer of UNIC observers in the jury sittings for the “We gave lectures about the UN and the stressed the importance of making people the People, We the Arts” competition. Sustainable Development Goals to the the central focus of interventions on Young students were asked to develop members of Friends of the UN Clubs in democracy and sustainable development. artwork, using the mediums of sculpture, the region. He also gave interviews to a TV The programme was attended by over painting, and miniature painting, to channel and to the magazine “El Buho”, 12 100 people, 15 September. highlight the theme of zero hunger. The to 13 September. winners receivied cash prizes. The competition was part of the 50th anniversary of Swiss engagement in Pakistan.
International Day of Peace: Three International Day of Peace Events, One Message in Lagos UNIC Lima organized an activity with the
The observance of International Day of Peruvian peacekeepers at the school La Peace in Lagos was a multiple celebration First UN Corner Launched at COMSATS Salle to celebrate International Day of as UNIC Lagos partnered with three University Peace. The peacekeepers explained their organisations to organise three distinctive work in different countries and how peace events for the Day. The activities included The first UN Corner, a bookshelf designed was key to achieving development around an awareness rally tagged “Walk for by the students of the faculty of the world, 19 September. Peace”’, a conference, and a youth architecture of COMSATS University, was symposium. Partners were Brahmas inaugurated at the University. The UN Kumaris (a faith-based organisation), the Corner will be the repository for Citizens’ Mediation Centre (a Lagos State publications of the UN System. The Swiss Government agency under the Ministry of Development Cooperation agreed to fund Justice) and the UN Association of Nigeria. its production and distribution of Over 500 people participated in the three publications to all government events, 21 September. universities in the country.
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countries took part in the contest. The launched in Moscow. Taking part in the participants presented their projects on event at the UN House were some 30 topics related to forest science and representatives of the local expert ecology, 6 September. community and the media specializing in international economic affairs, trade and development issues, 21 September.
Senegal
Graphic Design Workshop about the Sustainable Development Goals
UNIC Lima organized a graphic design workshop for the students of arts of the “School of High Performance” of Lima. International Day of Peace in Moscow They were to illustrate the 17 Sustainable UNIC Moscow Director made remarks at Development Goals logos. The Peruvian designer Ivan Palomino, winner of the UN the opening ceremony of an event Disarmament Poster Contest 2015, gave a dedicated to schools in Moscow for their Panel Discussionon on "The presentation at the workshop. The new newly acquired membership in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Peace logos will have Peruvian motifs and will Educational, Scientific and Cultural Components" be presented on UN Day. Organization (UNESCO) Associated Schools Project. The event was timed to UNIC Dakar, the Working Group on Russian Federation coincide with the International Day of Women, Peace and Security, the UN Office Peace. The UNIC Director highlighted the for West Africa and the Sahel, the Regional 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Office for West Africa of UN High Development. Among those participating Commissioner for Human Rights, Centre in the event were a group of former des Hautes Études de Défense et de peacekeepers and a representative of the Sécurité and the Junior Chamber UN Association. The school students International Dakar-Avenir, organized, on presented reports on UNESCO activities the occasion of the celebration of the and performed musical pieces, 21 International Day of Peace, a panel September. discussion on "The Sustainable Development Goals, Peace Components", 21 September. XIII International Junior Forest Contest Switzerland
The Federal Agency for Forestry jointly with the State Duma and the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Saint-Petersburg
Committee for Youth and Public Organizations, UN Economic Commission Launch of Trade and Development for Europe, and the Food and Agicultural Report 2016 Organization, with information support of the UNIC Moscow, conducted the XIII. The UN Conference on Trade and International Junior Forest Contest. Development flagship publication – Trade Special Event Titled “Educating the Representatives of more than 30 and Development Report 2016 – was Future”
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UN Office at Geneva organized a special South Africa through a national symposium that event titled “Educating the Future” for focused on eliminating corruption to build about 250 young migrants, refugees and peace. Over 1,000 people participated in asylum seekers in Geneva, three days the event including the judiciary and before the historic UN Summit on Members of Parliament. UNIC Dar es Refugees and Migrants in New York. The Salaam organized a press conference. Director-General warmly welcomed the Educational outreach to Dodoma students and several UN staff members Secondary school was also conducted. inspired the young audience with their Social media messaging by UNIC reached personal stories of migration. The event out to 4,500 people, 21 September. was highlighted on @UNGeneva social Togo media channels and Swiss TV ran a Events to mark the International Day of dedicated feature, 16 September. Peace
UNIC Pretoria commemorated International Day of Peace through outreach activities in Curro Roodeplaat Primary school with tertiary students at the Boston Media House and the Tshwane University of Technology in Soshangve, Pretoria West. Partnering with the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of
Disputes, and UN Volunteers, students WebEx Briefing on UN Summit for "Geneva Mix and Match" Event interacted first hand with peacekeepers Refugees and Migrants and gained insight into the role the UN UNIS Geneva, in cooperation with the plays in advocating peace across the UNIC Lome mobilized several journalists popular local venue Brasserie Halles de African continent. The tertiary students for a briefing on the UN Summit for l'îlle, organized the first "Geneva Mix and were encouraged to write an article on Refugees and Migrants addressed by Match" event, which was attended by their interactions with the best article Kamal Amakrane, Political Director in the close to 1,000 participants. The event being featured on the local Pretoria News Office of the President of the General aimed to bring closer local and website, 21September. Assembly, with the participation of a international staff in Geneva, and to refugee living in Togo. Three radio spread awareness about the work of the Tanzania interviews were conducted with UNIC on international system and the 2030 the national Radio (Radio Lomé) and on Sustainable Development Agenda, in an Radio Nana FM, 15 September. informal and fun way, through Sustainable Development Goals card games, and informative roll-ups, 13 September.
National Symposium on International Day of Peace
UNIC Dar es Salaam, in collaboration with
the UN Development Programme and civil Discussion on International Day of society partners in Tanzania, Peace commemorated the International Day of Peace in Dodoma, Central Tanzania November 2016
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UNIC Lome together with the UN United States the U.S. Government, Military and the Development Programme and the UN private sector. The discussion focused on Regional Centre for Peace and the importance of preparation for disaster Disarmament in Africa, celebrated the as well as taking the opportunity of the International Day of Peace through a attention provided by a disaster to “build- discussion under the theme: "Culture of back-better”, 15 September. Peace and Disarmament: pledge of Sustainable Development in Africa". The Zimbabwe event was under the initiative of the State Secretariat in the Ministry of Justice. Over
200 people attended, including Government officials, members of the Panel Discussion "Careers in diplomatic corps, international International Affairs" institutions, and students, 21 September. In an effort to support and promote young Ukraine women leaders, UNIC Washington D.C.
Deputy Director spoke to an audience of some 70 women as part of a panel event Visit by Desk Officer to UNIC Harare hosted by the Women's Foreign Policy Group. The event was designed to The UN Department of Public Information empower women to pursue a career in Desk Officer for Africa, Arab States and foreign policy and to explore options and Europe visited UNIC Harare on a working routes to achieve their goals. Also on the visit. During her visit she met with the UN panel, titled "Careers in International Resident Coordinator who is also the Affairs", was a former U.S. Ambassador, a UNIC Director and with other UNIC staff. She also attended part of the monthly UN Regional Consultation on Sustainable career diplomat, and a representative Communications Group meeting, 22 Development Goals from civil society. September. UNO Kyiv, jointly with the UN Country Team in Ukraine organized a regional consultation on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) prioritization in Uzhgorod, Ukraine. This was the 10th event held in different cities of Ukraine to raise awareness on the goals and ensure that the vision of everyone from all parts of Ukraine is incorporated into the national SDGs report. More than 700 “Slavery Walk” Exhibition at UNIC participants took part in ten multilateral Participation in Congressional Black Harare consultations in Dnipro, Sumy, Zhytomyr, Caucus Foundation’s Annual Mariupol, Lutsk, Uzhgorod, Chernivtsi, Legislative Conference UNIC Harare mounted photographs from Ternopil, Cherkasy and Zaporizhya. Goals the International Day in Remembrance of 16, 8 and 3 were selected as the most UNIC Washington D.C. Director the Victims of Slavery commemoration on important ones for Ukraine, 26 participated in a panel discussion on two walls adjacent to the boardroom in September. Disaster Preparedness and Response the Centre, thereby creating a “Slavery hosted by Congress woman Plaskett of the Walk”. This has proved quite popular with U.S. Virgin Islands. The event was part of UNIC visitors, 22 September. the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference and featured panellists from
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the middle, which makes it fun to use Belarus during different public events and thematic photoshoots. In September, UNO Minsk, in cooperation with other UN agencies, worked on creating a logo and other branding materials for “Inclusive Belarus: Leaving no one Behind” campaign. As a result, an original logo was adopted, and images of Exhibition at the Space Indaba the campaign advocates for Sustainable Development Goals for large bill boards Over 1,000 people visited the UN were created, as well as a Public Service exhibition mounted by the UN Announcement. Communications Groups at a joint UN stand held at The Space Indaba in Harare. Bolivia UNIC collected the books, fliers and publications from the agencies and mounted and manned the display. Also on display were materials highlighting UN UNO Yerevan has also produced different agency collaboration with donor agencies. promotional and information materials During the discussions, UN Heads of dedicated to the International Decade for Agencies participated in more than five People of African Descent, which were debates focusing on the Sustainable disseminated among the event Development Goals, 16 September. participants.
Creativity @ Work Austria College senior Hasán López (right) high New information materials school senior Brian Riveros (left) with Armenia UNIC La Paz National Information Officer Robert Brockmann (centre) demonstrated the use of USORIS – a digital app with the potential to boost efficiency, productivity and objectivity on Model UN worldwide. As veteran Model UN participants, both students teamed up, and successfully To raise awareness of the upcoming tested their app in a couple of local events. Summit for Refugees and Migrants in New York UNIS Vienna produced a short video Brazil for social media, interviewing different people, including delegates at the 2016 UNIC Rio promoted the Summit for Vienna International Model UN, about Refugees and Migrants with a short their expectations for the Summit. documentary. The documentary features four refugee families from the Americas, Bangladesh Africa and Middle East that came to Brazil for a new life. “Rio 2016” showed the The UN Resident Coordinator recorded a world some of the challenges faced by video statement on the International Day refugees. The documentary was posted of Peace which was uploaded on YouTube. on UNIC social media platforms and UNIC Dhaka arranged for the statement to distributed to 100 video partners. UNIC is UNO Yerevan has produced a Sustainable be aired on Bangladesh Television on 21 also editing four shorter versions and Development Goals banner with a hole in September 2016.
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adding English subtitles for use in UN in In commemorating the 60th anniversary Action. of Japan’s accession to the UN, UNIC Tokyo launched a blog series on the Georgia UNIC Blog introducing Japanese people who follow the UN values, with their UNO Tbilisi added Georgian subtitles to area of expertise. the Department of Public Information video “Sustainable Development Goals” for use in its outreach activities.
Iran
UNIC Tokyo posted an article about “Gaza Innovation Challenge”, a business contest supporting young Palestinian CEO,
organized by UNRWA. (Huffington Post Japan, 2 Sept) Ms. Miki Matheson, Paralympic ice sledge hockey player. (UNIC Blog and UNIC Tehran produced the Persian Huffington Post Japan, 7 Sept) version of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) rollup banner which was used during the UN-Iran Partnership Historic Photos and Documents Exhibition and will be used during future public events for promoting the SDGs.
Japan
Ms. Etsuko Yamada, Information and International Department of Japan Sports UNIC also uploaded an article by Kaori Council (UNIC Blog and Huffington Post Ura, Regional Programme Officer for Japan, 14 Sept) World Food Programme Southern Africa. (UNIC Blog, 21 Sept)
UNIC Tokyo produced three videos with Japanese subtitles on “UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants”.
UNIC Tokyo created a microsite within its website for all articles and uploaded content related to the 60th Anniversary of Japan’s Accession to the UN featuring the dedicated logo which was selected from over 200 submissions in a contest held Yanagisawa Toshio, Conductor (UNIC Blog last year. The site provides links to a blog and Huffington Post Japan, 28 Sept) 1. A world on the move: Refugees and and interview series launched for the 60th Migrants (Youtube, 13 Sep) anniversary in an easily accessible manner as well as an informative timeline of Japan in the UN history.
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Video on “World’s Largest Lesson for Sustainable Development Goals”
UNO Yerevan also transcribed, translated into Armenian and subtitled the following videos to use during educational outreach
events and actively share through 2. Large-scale movements of refugees and different social media platforms: migrants are a global phenomenon UNIC Tokyo released a video of Japanese (Youtube, 13 Sep) top models introducing the 17 SDGs Can We Keep the Education Promise (Youtube, 5 Sept). Inclusive, Equitable & Quality Education
Brazil
Social Media @ Work UNIC Rio launched a campaign on the Social media initiatives 2030 Agenda just before the UN General Assembly by translating the SDGs video Armenia into Portuguese and also producing 17 3. General Assembly Refugees Migrant short videos on the SDGs, posting one a Wrap-up (Youtube, 20 Sep) UNO Yerevan created thematic photo day on its social media channels. Here is albums on its social media accounts and one about goal 10, reducing inequalities. promoted them through the available UNIC also produced nine stories on the platforms: Paralympic Games and reproduced stories
and posts from different UN agencies Flickr album “Community Awareness working with this theme, such as the UN Campaign Dedicated to the World Children’s Fund, UN Educational, Humanitarian Day 2016” Scientific and Cultural Organization and
the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Facebook album “Berd high school More than 30 posts on this theme were students at the UN house” UNIC also produced a video on climate posted on UNIC’s social media platforms change and the Paris Agreement. including, Facebook and Twitter. Facebook event for “What is Humanity for you?” online contest Colombia
Facebook album “The World’s Largest In the framework of the peace process Lesson for Sustainable Development and the path to a referendum, UNIC Goals” Bogota led the campaign “ABCAcuerdosDePaz” on a daily-basis, Video on International Literacy Day in UNIC posted images explaining each item Dilijan of the Peace Agreement.
UNIC subtitled “PLAN”, a documentary Video on “What is Humanity for you?” created on the SDGs, into Japanese online contest (Youbtube, 20 Sept). Video on Development Goals outreach
lesson in Berd town
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Mexico Switzerland Experiences @ Work Staff views and experiences
UNIC Mexico City translated the Secretary-General's remarks into Spanish The UNIS Geneva radio team begun work at the high-level side event of the Lesbian, on a Sustainable Development Goals Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Core Studio project, a platform for creating Group and designed a social media multimedia content on the work being campaign tailored for Mexico. The done by the UN and its partners in the statement was also adapted as a press Swiss city to support the global release and was published by a major development agenda. The studio daily newspaper. By Roberta Caldo, National Information Officer, UNIC components are being procured in Rio de Janeiro partnership with the Geneva Perception I was invited to give support to the Social Change Project. The multimedia material Media Team at the 71st session of the UN started with a series of radio interviews General Assembly, both a challenge and specifically on the SDGs – in English and an opportunity. Besides meeting all the French – which were in turn being NY colleagues, I had the chance of learning professionally transcribed by a company how to use many tools, such as Twitter that employs refugees. Mirror and SnappyTV. I took the Brazilian Ukraine President to the VIP area and met Forrest Whitaker, Michael Douglas, presidents and ministers.
UNIC Mexico also started organizing Facebook Live sessions to promote UN activities. The most successful so far (with a total reach of 23.3K viewers) was a chat to analyze the results and impact of the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants held on 19 September 2016 at UN Headquarters. UNO Kyiv launched its account on Instagram instagram.com/unitednations_ukraine to bring ideas and values of the United This is a product of the Information Nations closer to the users of social media. Centres Service, Department of Public Information. For more activities of the global network of UN information centres, visit the global UNIC Activity
Blog.
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Where our Information Centres are Located: https://unic.un.org/factsheet/Default.aspx
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