Vojufe Obujpot Bttpdjbujpo pgBvtusbmjb UNity NOVEMBER 2018 EDITOR Candice Woods ------------------------------------------------ UNity DESIGNER Ali McTaggart November 2018 ------------------------------------------------ NSW Daniel Nour Welcome. UNity is the official monthly newsletter VIC Sophie Arnold of the United Nations Association of Australia QLD Rebecca Buttenshaw (UNAA). UNity covers a range of news and events at a local, national and international level. This TAS Ariadne Magalhães newsletter is a key part of delivering the UNAA's SA Lidia Moretti mission to inform, inspire and engage all WA Sandy Chong Australians on the work, goals and values of the NT Katrina Fong Lim United Nations, to create a safer, fairer and more YPN Deborah Gonsalves sustainable world. ------------------------------------------------- WEBSITE: www.unaa.org.au EMAIL: [email protected] CONTENTS SUBSCRIBE HERE DONATE HERE Welcome from the National Executive Director 3 ------------------------------------------------- Message from the Editor 4 FOLLOW US Local news 5 National News 11 International news 13 Upcoming Events 16 Front cover photo: UN Headquarters during UNGA73 2 | UNAA UNity November 2018 Credit: UN Photo/Mark Garten UNity VOjuz/ from the National Executive Director I am delighted to introduce the November issue of UNity, The past few months have brought many important the United Nations Association of Australia monthly developments across various UN agencies. The 73rd newsletter. Each issue of UNity will showcase the fantastic session of the UN General Assembly ran through initiatives underway across our state and territory teams, September and October and included discussions on the Young Professionals Network, UN Youth and Academic financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Network, as well as our four National Programs on the Action for Peacekeeping and the prevention of non- SDGs, Climate Change, Human Rights and Peace & communicable diseases. Security. The newsletter will also update our readers with international news on global issues and what’s happening With the release of the Intergovernmental Panel on in the UN from an Australian perspective. Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, we learned about climate change impacts that It has been a busy time for the UNAA and in late October I could be avoided if global warming is successfully limited represented Australia and the UNAA at the 42nd WFUNA to 1.5°C compared to 2°C. This Special Report will be Plenary Assembly in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. This important in guiding the Katowice Climate Change was a terrific opportunity to meet leaders of other UNAs Conference in Poland in December, when governments across the world and with UNAs in the Asia-Pacific region review the Paris Agreement to combat climate change. I in particular. The UNAA’s resolution on the protection of highly recommend reading the report’s Summary for refugees and internally displaced peoples received Policymakers. Climate change and work on SDG13 Climate unanimous endorsement from WFUNA members. The Action will form an important part of the UNAA World UNAA also led discussion on UNAs encouraging their Oceans Conference in June 2019. We look forward to governments to: develop national sustainable updating you on the Conference in issues to come. development action plans including a public awareness campaign; and endorse the Secretary-General’s Action for I hope you enjoy this month’s issue and are inspired by Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative. While away, I also travelled the UNAA’s work and the efforts of various UN agencies through New York, where I attended several meetings at across the world the UN and meet with Gillian Bird, Australian Ambassador to the UN, her staff at the Mission, as well as several Australians working in the UN System. Our work continues to be guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and we are driven to ensure Australia achieves each Goal and target by 2030. We still have a long way to go, especially since Australia is Lachlan Hunter currently ranked 37th in the world, down from 17th in UNAA National Executive Director 2015, when the 2030 Agenda was adopted, according to the SDG Index published in July 2018. Of particular importance is urging the government to adopt a National Plan that coordinates all government agencies’ activities towards implementing the SDGs. As part of a Senate Enquiry into the SDGs in August, I also spoke in favour of developing a public awareness campaign for the SDGs. UNAA UNity November 2018 | 3 UN Photo/Yutaka Nagata from the editor We have made some changes to the SAFER UNity newsletter, with a design refresh and new sections. Each month, UNity will deliver the latest news and events at a local, national and international level curated by our communications team. The events section provides a snap-shot of our upcoming events across Australia. From the 73rd United Nations General Assembly to United Nations Day, the previous few months have seen some significant events. FAIRER Internationally, the seminal research report on climate change was released by the IPCC, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honorable Marise Payne represented Australia at the UNGA for the first time. August also saw the tragic passing of former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. There are also some exciting upcoming events here in Australia and I'd like to highlight two for which the UNAA is a partner. Malala is to many one of the most inspiring figures of our time and the MORE world's youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner. Described as "one of SUSTAINABLE the most inspiring figures of our time" (Tim Cook, Apple CEO), Malala is the world's youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner. The UNAA will also be partnering with the International Organization on Migration, United Nations Information Centre, United Nations Higher Commission on Refugees and the Australian National University in hosting the 2018 Global Migration Film Festival. This year's film is 'The Merger', a moving Australian comedy about the power of sport and community in breaking down barriers and changing the conversation on refugees and migration. Following the film, the Director, Producer and cast will be available for Q&A FOR A SAFER, FAIRER Please enjoy reading the first edition of the new-look UNity, and AND MORE please subscribe here to be first to receive the December edition! SUSTAINABLE WORLD Candice Woods National Communications Manager 4 | UNAA UNity November 2018 UNity LOCAL NEW SOUTH WALES United Nations Day events in Martin Place, Sydney - 24 October The sacrifices of the past and hope for the future: that there is a common value in Australia: the right these were the two defining elements of United to live, to live the way you deem appropriate to Nations Day for attendees at The Cenotaph in yourself and to others, and to treat everyone the way Sydney’s Martin Place. United Nations Day takes place you want to be treated,” Mr Farghal said. Read more annually on 24 October and begins with the wreath- laying ceremony, which commemorates the sacrifices made by fallen UN peacekeepers. For Mr Yasser Abed, Consul General to the Arab Republic of Egypt in Sydney, the day was a reminder of the respect which everyday Australians still have for the values of freedom and peace which underpin the UN. “All the different representatives of the nations and ethnicities that participated in the event demonstrate AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY Space and the Rules-based Order event with DFAT Secretary Frances Adamson, Canberra In this Distinguished Public Lecture, co-sponsored by the UNAA and the ANU Centre for International and Public Law, Frances Adamson, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, discussed the need to extend the rules-based international order to Space. Are you based in the ACT and would like more information about becoming a member of the UNAA ACT? Click here for further information. UNAA UNity November 2018 | 5 VICTORIA Model UN Conference, Melbourne On Thursday 11 October, UNAA Victoria, Her Place Model UN Conferences provide a platform for students Women’s Museum and the Immigration Museum to deepen their awareness and understanding of both hosted a Model UN Conference to celebrate the the UN and the issue of gender equality in an innovative International Day of the Girl Child. Mary Crooks (AO), and interactive manner, whilst fostering tolerance and Executive Director of the Victorian Women’s Trust, respect for diversity and difference of opinion. Students launched the conference, which had as its theme and teachers regularly comment on how participation Achieving Gender Equality: Empowering Women and boosts student confidence in debating and public Girls (SDG 5). speaking and improves critical thinking skills. Some 90 secondary students from schools across Victoria came together to represent 21 UN Member States during the full day simulation of the UN General Assembly. Delegates presented their country’s position to the meeting before caucusing with other countries to come to a collaborative agreement on a new UN resolution based on SDG 5. One student said afterwards that all delegates “had a voice. We were free to negotiate, question and speak up and that felt amazing". UNAA Study Tour, New York UNAA Study Tour to the UN in New York: From 14-19 October, former UN Ambassador and Staff member, Carlisle Richardson, led UNAA’s inaugural tour of UN Headquarters in New York.The nine participants took part in a very busy week of meetings with UN officials and UN agencies and programs, including UNDP, the UN University - Centre for Policy Research, UN Women and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. The week started with a visit to the Australian Mission to the UN, where the group were fortunate enough to meet Ambassador Gillian Bird and Mission staff. Later that evening, group members enjoyed meeting Australians working in the UN system in New York over informal drinks.