2011 End of Year Message
from UNAA National President, Robert Hill:

2011 has marked a period of strength and consolidation for the UNAA. We launched a National Campaign supporting Australia’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2013-14, with speaker events across Australia promoting the important contribution Australia will make to this vital forum.

We continued to work in the Pacific to strengthen civil society organisations and promote human rights, helping establish UN Associations in Tonga, Samoa, Solomon Islands, PNG and Vanuatu.

In May this year, I travelled to Vanuatu to formally launch the UN Association of Vanuatu alongside their Minister for Justice Ralph Regenvanu and UNAV President Hannington Alatoa.

Our National Conference this year was held in Perth and focused on progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, and included speakers such as Rev Tim Costello who spoke about poverty reduction and development challenges, and Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations Benson Saulo who highlighted the importance of International Year of Youth.

We celebrated UN Day this year across the country with events organised by our Branches in every state and territory, from a UNITY Film Festival in Darwin to a Young Diplomats Forum in Adelaide.

Our UNAA Young Professionals Network was also launched on UN Day, with a sell-out event in Darling Harbour featuring speakers, cocktails and canapés which lasted well into the evening.

Our work played out against a backdrop of global challenges – famine in the horn of Africa, civil unrest in northern Africa and the Middle East, rising inequality across the world and a record rise in global carbon emissions. In his UN Day address, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon remarked that “In these turbulent times, there is only one answer: unity of purpose. Global problems demand global solutions.” In 2012, we will be working harder than ever to raise awareness and support for the vital work the UN continues to do around the world to tackle these problems without borders.
We will launch the new UNAA website, upgraded to provide a more educational and interactive experience for people wanting to learn about the UN’s history and current work, and Australia’s contribution to the organisation.

We will release our UN Report Card ‘Australia and the UN,’ assessing the Australian Government’s performance in relation to key UN areas such as peacekeeping, climate change, gender, and disarmament and use it as a key advocacy tool.

We will pilot Model UN Competitions in the Pacific for the first time to engage young people in the work of the United Nations, and teach them skills in negotiation and international diplomacy, applied to practical regional issues.

We will engage the community in the Rio+20 Conference being held in Brazil, and advocate for practical strategies for sustainable development that resonate with countries at all levels of development, and effective reform of the UN institutional framework that will facilitate these sustainable development efforts.

We will promote the broad community support of Australia’s Security Council Bid in the lead up to the vote in October so that all member states are aware of Australia’s commitment to multilateralism.

Most importantly, we will seek to involve you in our work to make the world a more peaceful, prosperous and sustainable place.
 

THE UNAA: CELEBRATING UN DAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY

United Nations Day Dinner, Canberra

This Annual Fundraising Dinner is not to be missed. Supported by the UN Parliamentary Group, UN Information Centre, UN Women Australia, UN Youth Australia and UNHCR, this year’s dinner is expected to draw a record crowd.

This year, the dinner focuses on ‘Australia’s unique perspective at the United Nations’.

Keynote speakers include Dr Megan Davis from the UN Forum on Indigenous Peoples and Brian Gleeson, the Secretary-General’s appointee working with the UN in Libya.

For further information, download the event flyer here or purchase tickets online by visiting www.trybooking.com/VIE.

Media Peace Awards, Melbourne

The UN Media Peace Awards were established in 1979, and recognise those in the media whose work highlights and champions human rights, humanitarian and social justice issues.

The 2011 Awards took place on Friday 21 October and was hosted by Virginia Trioli, Presenter, ABC News Breakfast and featured entertainment by Bryan Dawe, political satirist.

For more information, click here.

Young Professionals Network Launch, Sydney

The UNAA is excited to launch the UNAA Young Professionals Network – a dynamic network of young people who work to advance the goals of the United Nations here in Australia. There is no better way to celebrate United Nations Day on 24 October 2011 than by helping us to launch this exciting new initiative.

We would be delighted if you could join us in Darling Harbour, Sydney for the Launch, with drinks and canapés, exciting speakers and exclusive founding membership of the Network.

As part of the UNAA Security Council Campaign, UNAA National President and former Ambassador to the UN The Hon Robert Hill and Young Victorian of the Year Thom Woodroofe will be speaking about Australia and the UN and our historic bid for a seat on the UN Security Council.

Click here to download the event flyer with booking details.

United Nations Day Cenotaph Ceremony, Sydney

UNAA organises Sydney’s Annual UN Day Wreath Laying Ceremony, which will take place from 10.30am – 11.50am on Monday 24th October at the Cenotaph (between George and Pitt Streets), Martin Place, Sydney.

A distinguished Guest of Honour will read the Cenotaph Oration, and in attendance will be in excess of forty distinguished representatives of Federal, State and Local Government, UNO and Associations, Navy, Army and Air Military and Federal and State Police Personnel, Sydney Consular Corps, NGO’s and Associations.

For more information, please contact 0419 178 279.

United Nations Day Lunch, Sydney

As part of the UNAA Security Council Campaign, Sydney’s Annual United Nations Day Luncheon will be held from 12.30 – 2.30pm on Monday 24th October in the Stranger’s Dining Room of Parliament House, Sydney.

Her Excellency the Governor of New South Wales, The Honourable Marie Bashir will be the distinguished Guest of Honour. Guest Speakers will be the President of UNHCR, Naomi Speer and Professor Alison Broinwoski, who will be speaking on Australia’s bid for a seat on the UN Security Council.

For more information, download the event flyer here.

UNITY Film Festival, Darwin

This year, United Nations Day will be celebrated in the Northern Territory with a FREE screening of the UNITY Film Festival at 6.30pm on Monday 24 October 2011 at Charles Darwin University (Building Blue 1.1).

The selection of short films screened as part of the UNITY Film Festival encompasses issues such as: gender empowerment, refugees, indigenous rights, biodiversity protection and fair trade in the Asia Pacific Region.

There will be live performances from the One Mob Dancers and other local cultural groups and light refreshments will be available.

For further information, contact Le Smith, President UNAA NT on 0408 184 189 or unaant@gmail.com.

Lord Mayor Reception, Brisbane

UNAA Qld celebrated UN Day by holding a Lord Mayor Reception at City Hall in Brisbane in conjunction with UN Women Australia.

The event was held on Monday 17 October 2011 from 5.30 – 7.30pm and focused on the United Nations Charter and Pacific Women’s programs.

For more information, call UNAA Qld on (07) 3254 1096.

United Nations Day Dinner, Adelaide

South Australia’s biggest fundraising dinner for the UN Association in honour of UN Day was held on Friday 21 October, with keynote speakers from Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation South Australia.

For further information, download the event flyer here or contact John Crawford from the UNAA South Australia Branch on 08 8344 4978 and johncraw@internode.on.net.

Young Diplomats Forum, Adelaide

The Schools’ Day Forum is aimed at students in Years 10 and 11. At this event, delegates will have the chance to participate in a workshop focused on diplomacy and negotiation, hear from esteemed speakers such as international law expert Professor Susan Breau about the state of international relations and Australia’s bid for a seat on the Security Council, as well as participate in a Joint Cabinet Crisis, wherein they may apply their newly learned skills in diplomacy.

For further information, please contact Matilde Wise of UN Youth South Australia on 0431 253 509 or sapres@unyouth.org.au.

Public Lecture, Hobart

As part of the UNAA Security Council Campaign, UNAA Tasmania is holding a public lecture by the Hon Robert Hill on ‘Is the Security Council Still Relevant Today?’

The event is taking place at 6pm on Monday 31 October 2011 at the Dechaineux Theatre, part of the University of Tasmania’s Centre for the Arts on Hunter Street in Hobart.

Come along, get involved and find out how you can be a part of the UN Association in Tasmania.

For further information, contact secretary@unaatasmania.org.au.

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