On the 24th of April, UNIC Canberra took part in the Women's International Club event to highlight the diverse work of the United Nations and how it affects each one of us. In front of an enthusiastic audience of over a hundred people, Director of UNIC Canberra, Mr. Christopher Woodthorpe spoke on the topic of "UN in Our Daily Lives" which was followed by a lively question and answer session.

The speech highlighted the different aspects of the work of the UN ranging from providing help in emergencies to coordinating global efforts on standardization of telecommunications protocols which make things like the internet or mobile phone conversations a reality.

UNIC Canberra also took this opportunity to tell the audience about the MY World global survey campaign and how each person's vote counts towards a world that we all want. A voting table was setup to collect votes from the participants and to answer any of their questions on the matter.

The UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Canberra, with the support of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Bangkok, marked the Australian launch of the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2013 with an event held on 18 April in Canberra.
 
The launch featured a presentation by Professor P.N. (Raja) Junankar, Honorary Professor, Industrial Relations Research Centre, University of New South Wales, together with commentary provided by Professors Glenn Withers and Hal Hill, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University.

Professor Junankar highlighted the report’s message that “we can attempt to achieve many of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals by trying to focus on poverty, inequality, employment, […] health and education being given prominence to help people become more productive in the future.” 

The event was well-attended, with over 30 participants including Ambassadors and other members of the diplomatic community, representatives of government agencies, and academics.

Also you can access short video interview of  Professor Junakar at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol1KGWvjkW8

Inka Potma and Jack Rogerson

Australia marked Autism Awareness Day 2013 with the brilliant blue illumination of Sydney Opera House in Sydney.

To the applause of over one hundred gathered to witness the lighting from across the harbor, the switch was flipped by two young teenagers on the autism spectrum, Inka Potma and Jack Rogerson. Coincidentally, Jack's mother, Nicole Rogerson, CEO of Autism Awareness Australia and organizer of the evening was in New York moderating the UN Department of Public Information panel discussion on Autism. 

The Director of UNIC Canberra, read out the Secretary-General's message for the Day and spoke of how momentum was gaining traction within the international community to build a greater awareness of autism.  He noted that the Opera House was the first blue beacon of many that would be lit up around the world to celebrate the Day.

The 22nd session of the World Model UN Conference, hosted for the first time in Australia, took place from 18-22 March in Melbourne. Over 2000 university student delegates from 80 countries participated in the Conference which was hosted by students from Monash University and RMIT University.

The Director of the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Canberra, Chris Woodthorpe, delivered the Secretary-General’s message at the opening ceremony, urging delegates to “use the negotiating skills you learn in Model UN to help navigate the real-world problems we face.”

Delegates were also presented with the Secretary-General’s video message encouraging participation in the MYWorld survey and many delegates completed the survey during the course of the conference.

The opening ceremony also featured a message from UN ESCAP Executive Secretary Dr Noeleen Heyzer, and a video message from Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Mr Woodthorpe later addressed the High Level Youth Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG Committee). Comprised of 20 delegates, an AusAID mentor and members of NGOs, the MDG Committee considered the progress of the MDGs and issued a Declaration outlining its vision for the post-2015 global development agenda.