The photo exhibition "International Cultural Dialogue" which commemorates the World Intellectual Property Day and the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, was inaugurated on May 7 at the UN House in Armenia.

The black and white photographs by the Armenian photographer and artist Tatev Mnatsakanyan, featuring the Armenian and Egyptian famous painters and sculptors, were exhibited. Her art attracted youth, artists, the international community, civil society activists, the media and the general public.

The aim of the exhibition is to raise the public’s awareness about the distinguished artists who dedicated their life to the development of art and promotion of peace, tolerance and cultural diversity. Tatev Mnatsakanyan plans to involve those countries in Western Europe, Middle East, USA, Canada and Russia, which have large Armenian communities, and serve as cultural bridge between nations.

Maria Dotsenko, UN Department of Public Information Representative said: “Through Armenian art, its rich traditions, which developed its strengths and brightness on the crossroads of various civilizations, we wish to attract public attention to the promotion of cultural diversity, tolerance and dialogue among different nations. I believe that this exhibition exalting the esteemed artists empowers the next, young generation with creativity. The UN House doors are traditionally open to artists who use their creativity to promote UN values aimed to spread ideas of peace, cultural diversity, gender equality and sustainable development.”

The photographer, Tatev Mnatsakanyan added: “I wish to further promote the beauty of Armenian art and its principles of tolerance and respect to diversity. Thanks to UNO Yerevan, I am able to share my works that were demonstrated earlier in the Armenian National Assembly and in Tashkent, Uzbekistan”.

Several of the elderly artists whose photos were on the walls were also present at the opening ceremony thus doubling the value of the exhibition and the essence of the theme itself.

The exhibition will be displayed in UN House till the end of May.
More photos on UN Armenia Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.521825264543213.1073741834.150992104959866&type=3

On the International Day Against Homophobia, the UN System in Peru celebrated diversity while reaffirming its rejection of all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation.

To advance this important Day, the UN Information Centre (UNIC) Lima approached local UN agencies, asking them to speak to the young victims of homophobic bullying. To reach the widest possible audience, UNIC recorded their words as video messages under Proyecto Todo Mejora for posting on the UN System web page. 

Among others, speaking on camera were the Resident Coordinator of the UN System and UNDP Representative in Peru, UNAIDS Coordinator for Peru and Bolivia, Representative of the Pan American Health Organization and the  World Health Organization, UNICEF Representative in Peru, Officer-in-Charge of the UN Population Fund in Peru, OHCHR Regional Representative and the UNIC National Information Officer.

On April 29 during a Model UN conference organized jointly by UNO Yerevan and the Yerevan State Linguistic University, over 30 students increased their knowledge of UN values, importance of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, as well as honed their negotiation and communication skills. The conference was a simulation of the UN Security Council session dedicated to the issue of nuclear tests conducted by North Korea.

Students played roles of diplomats, by representing positions of their respective countries and discussed and agreed on the Security Council’s Resolution. Prior to the Model UN (MUN) Conference, training sessions were held to further educate the participants on the UN global agenda, the functions and structure of the UN Security Council as well as its Rules of Procedures.

UNO staff, former UNO volunteers with extensive MUN experience, as well as a trainer from the Armenian UN Association, guided the participants through the preparation period, while two distinguished diplomats delivered lectures on the issue being simulated.

The students learned more about the leading role of the UN and its Security Council on the UN agenda issue of non-proliferation and North Korea. They understood what a huge responsibility it is to prepare their respective country’s position, properly voice it, negotiate, and find a common ground with other states, while taking into account possible consequences not just for their country and the region, but for the whole planet. The ability to negotiate, compromise, build consensus and tolerate other points of view, was unarguably useful for their future careers and will help them in becoming more active members of their society.

Maria Dotsenko, UNO Representative in Yerevan, Ambassador Vahram Kazhoyan, Head of the Department of International Organizations within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Lusine Fldjyan, Deputy Rector of the Yerevan State Linguistic University highlighted that MUN is a useful tool which helps youth to better understand the challenges of global UN agenda and role of UN in promoting peace and security. They were impressed by the passion and enthusiasm showed by the students and the efforts they had invested into research and presentations.
Students actively discussed the agenda issue and as a result, drafted a resolution which was successfully adopted at the end of the day. At the end of the session, the participants received certificates of appreciation and the best delegate selected by the participants themselves received a symbolic award.

For more photos, visit UNO's Facebook page!

Reaching people in their own language is a UN priority, one that the UN Information Centre (UNIC) Rio De Janeiro lives by.  That is why UNIC spends much time translating UN messages into Portuguese, so the people of Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking countries can learn and benefit from what the UN has to offer.

For example, UNIC and the Coordination of the Brazilian Post-2015 Campaign translated into Portuguese the website "MY World 2015" and logo, which was launched in Brazil on 25 January.  Is it any coincidence that as of May 2013, the country has had the second highest number of participants in the world? 

For International Women's Day, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Centre produced a video on the situation of the refugees – especially women – and on the campaign entitled "Amplify their Voices." 

And based on the video produced by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Women and Peacekeeping,  UNIC produced a similar video on the theme for International Women's Day. 

In addition to these stand-alone translations, UNIC also translated and added Portuguese subtitles to videos on the situation and the work of the UN in Sudan; Humanitarian Appeal 2013 by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; and the Secretary-General's message for the Day Without News global campaign on the safety of journalists and freedom of expression.

The fruits of their labour extended to other products as well, including the translation and dubbing into Portuguese of the UN in Action programmes Syrian Refugees: A Growing Crisis and Bolivia: Crazy For Quinoa; as well as  UN High Commissioner for Refugees video on Za'atari Camp in Jordan.