On 19 October, as part of the UN Let’s Fight Racism  campaign and in commemoration of UN Day, the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Port of Spain led an interactive talk with 8 to 10-year old students at the Siparia Public Library in Trinidad and Tobago.  

The UNIC National Information Officer spoke about the history and work of the UN and its commitment to human rights. It elaborated on the importance of tolerance and respect for all persons, regardless of race or any other differences.  

At the end of the session, the student participants agreed to be mindful of stereotyping, to be more tolerant towards others, and to take on the fight against racism. 

This was the fifth in the UNIC Port of Spain’s series talk sessions in Trinidad and Tobago on the Let’s Fight Racism campaign to encourage individuals to learn more – and educate others – about the issue,  and work to address personal prejudices.  

The UNIC has focused on young school children as its primary target in this campaign, in order to extend its youth outreach and to confront messages and attitudes that promote intolerance at even the youngest ages.  

On 19 October, the Indian Council for UN Relations collaborated with the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in New Delhi in organizing a UN Day lecture by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament and former UN Under-Secretary-General.  

The lecture, attended by 100 diplomats, academics and NGO members underlined the continuing need for the international organization and urged Member States to renew their support for international action under the UN multilateral banner.  

As he concluded his 40-minute lecture, Dr. Tharoor said: “Dag Hammarskjöld once described the United Nations as an adventure, a new ‘Santa Maria’, to use the name of Christopher Columbus' ship, battling its way through storms and uncharted waters to a new world.  But, as he explained, on the shore there were always people who blamed the storm on the ship, rather than on the weather.  Five decades later, the metaphor sadly still holds true.  The UN continues to sail in uncharted waters, but it is blamed for the squalls that assail it.  

“Yet, if we continue to be guided by the compass of our determination to live in a world governed by common rules and shared values, and to steer together in the multilateral institutions that the enlightened leaders of the last century have bequeathed to us, then indeed we can explore the hopes of the UN founding fathers, and fulfill the continuing adventure of making this century better than the last.

“There is no alternative. The UN must be reformed, because we cannot allow it to perish.”

The lecture was chaired by UNIC Director Kiran Mehra-Kerpelman, who also moderated an animated discussion.

The United Nations Information Office (UNO) in Uzbekistan, along with other UN Agencies, held a joint event devoted to the United Nations 66th anniversary celebrations, at the Tashkent International School, (TIS) as part of its UN day celebrations.

The event, which brought together TIS students, their parents and teachers, and the personnel of diplomatic missions in Tashkent, included a presentation regarding the United Nation’s (UN) activities around the world and in Uzbekistan.

On the day of the event, each room contain an exhibit of a country, with people in bright national dress, information regarding each country’s unique culture and traditions, posters and graphics of national sites and monuments, delicious national food and entertaining games, dances and songs.

One room drew the attention of visitors in particular. This room was devoted to the UN and provided its interested visitors with detail information regarding the international organisation and its global activities. The exhibition contained up-to-date UN publications, in addition to short movies featuring the most interesting projects conducted by the UNO.

Ambartsumyan Batien, a participant who visited the UN room, was particularly impressed. “When I entered the room, I was instantly surrounded by a free atmosphere and the amicability of UN staff. I could get detailed and easily accessible information regarding the UN activities in Uzbekistan. What I liked most of all is that the UN staff were predisposed to communicate. I wanted to participate in Model UN Conference, and so the UN staff readily provided me with social media contacts and telephone numbers. Now I can directly communicate with them and join a conference.”

The event included a quiz ‘How well do you know the UN?’ Knowledgeable students were awarded with special presents. In addition, children and their parents played a game with UNICEF staff. This game seemed both interesting and cognitive, meaning children could learn information about UNICEF activities while playing.

“UN Day is one of the year’s most important highlights,” says Savita Varde-Naqvi, the UNICEF Chief of Communications. “That is because normally we talk a lot about the United Nations. However, the UN day offers a person a unique opportunity to get acquainted personally with the UN’s agencies and projects, to meet the people who truly care about the UN and the people for whom the organisation cares. In this regard, the motto ‘UN – it’s your world’ is fully justified.”

“It was my pleasure today to talk to pupils of this international school. I found out a lot about their attitude towards studying. In some countries children cannot go to school, and that is why I liked that the children in Uzbekistan understand and value this possibility.”
Overall, the presentation at TIS summed up a whole array of events dedicated to this year’s UN day celebrations.

 

The UN Information Centre (UNIC) in New Delhi Director, Kiran Mehra-Kerpelman,  celebrated UN Day with the UN Pensioners Association India, an organization that assists UN retirees, and, as Ms. Mehra-Kerpelman observed, “is one of the most vibrant and pro-active associations in the world.”
 
Ms. Mehra-Kerpelman updated the Association on the work of the UN Country team in India in the light of India’s growing international role and the evolving relationship of the UN with the Indian government. She also lauded the work of the Association and its members. “It is heartening to see that even as retirees, you are still very much part of the extended UN family, and keeping on top of pension-related issues which will help all of us in the future,” she said.