The Executive Director of UNIFEM, Dr. Ines Alberdi visited Sydney and Canberra during August this year. This was Dr. Alberdi’s first visit to Australia as Executive Director of UNIFEM and included meetings with the Australian government, the corporate sector and members and supporters of UNIFEM Australia. The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Canberra assisted with the visit by providing logistical and media support. Dr. Alberdi was accompanied by Elizabeth Cox, Regional Director of UNIFEM Pacific, Rita Taporn, Pacific Regional Program Manager and Hazel Gooding, External Relations Officer, from UNIFEM head office. 
A key part of the schedule was meeting with senior members of the Australian government – Mr. Bob McMullan, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Ms. Tanya Plibersek, Minister for Housing and for the Status of Women, and Mr. Duncan Kerr, Parliamentary Secretary for the Pacific Island Affairs. As a result of these meetings a partnership agreement between the Australian Government and UNIFEM was signed– representing a significant increase in core funding for UNIFEM as well as a commitment to a closer working relationship. Speaking at the agreement signing event, Dr. Alberdi warmly welcomed the support of the Australian Government and looked forward to an ongoing productive partnership. Dr. Alberdi was also the guest of honour at a Gala Dinner in Canberra, hosted by Minister Tanya Plibersek, which celebrated the 20th Anniversary of UNIFEM Australia.  As part of the night’s formal proceedings UNIFEM Australia announced a contribution to UNIFEM of $630,000. 
The following day Dr. Alberdi addressed the Australian Government’s UN Parliamentary Group and launched the Progress of the World’s Women 2008/2009 report which provides examples of how women are demanding accountability for action on commitments to promote gender equality and women’s rights from national governments, justice and law enforcement systems, employers and service providers as well as international institutions. 
Prior to her Australian visit, Dr. Alberdi was in Singapore to address the Women’s Leaders Network of APEC and the annual meeting of UNIFEM National Committees.

World Environment Day was hailed in Sydney and Canberra, Australia with several events in which the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Canberra participated. In Sydney on 5 June 2009, Mr. Christopher Woodthorpe, the Director of UNIC Canberra, attended the Landcare/Coastcare Australia World Environment Day celebrations, at which a national campaign was launched to encourage more Australians to join up to the already 100,000 strong Landcare volunteer network. At this event, UNIC Canberra’s Director  delivered the Secretary General’s World Environment Day message which highlighted the need for transition to a new era of greener, cleaner development. UNIC Canberra’s Director also attended the event held in Sydney launching the Clean Up the World 2008 Activity report. The report provides an overview of last year’s Clean Up the World activities around the world.

On 14 June 2009, UNIC Canberra’s Director attended a special tree planting ceremony hosted by the Mexican Ambassador, Her Excellency Martha Ortiz de Rosas. Mexico is a leading partner in the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Billion Tree Campaign, pledging and planting approximately 25 per cent of the trees under the campaign. Members of the Diplomatic Corps attended the tree planting in Canberra, where another tree was added to the goal of one billion.

On 29 May 2009, the Director of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Canberra, Mr. Christopher Woodthorpe, delivered the Secretary-General’s International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers message

The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers  celebrates the service of past and present United Nations peacekeepers worldwide. In Australia, the day’s proceedings began with a ceremonial march by a contingent of the NSW Police Force and Australian Federal Police peacekeeping veterans to the NSW Police College Chapel, where an invocation and ceremonial handover of the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal belonging to the late Sergeant Ian Donald Ward took place.

Sergeant Ward, a former member of the NSW Police Force and the Commonwealth Police Force of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, was tragically killed in 1974 when his vehicle came across an unmarked minefield during his humanitarian duties. Soon afterwards he was awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal posthumously.

The invocation at the NSW Police College Chapel was read by the Detective Acting Sergeant, a highly experienced peacekeeping officer. In part, the invocation read ‘let us recall our fellow Australians, and those of other nationalities here today, who have served proudly under the flag of the United Nations in its peacekeeping actions throughout the world over the many years, and in remembering those who fell in their most gallant callings. Let us also honour the many servants of the United Nations, who do the limit of their human strength (and even beyond), give of their wills and their spirits, that their days might be our tomorrows. The invocation was followed by a blessing and a hymn entitled ”Song of all Nations,“ and a minute’s silence for all UN peacekeepers who have given their lives in the service of peace. The service finished with a requiescat played by a lone bugler.

Due to its national significance, Sergeant Ian Ward’s medal had been in the custody of the Australian Federal Police museum until today’s handover. It will now be entrusted to the NSW Police College for five years.

Later in the afternoon, at the dedication of the College’s peacekeeping display, the UNIC Canberra Director read the Secretary-General’s mesage for the Day, which focused on the important role played by women peacekeepers. In additional comments, the Director said he was pleased to have had the opportunity to meet with Australian women peacekeepers during the day.

The NSW Police College display is designed to honour those members of the NSW Police Force who have contributed to United Nations peacekeeping operations as United Nations police officers.

The day’s events were also attended by representatives from the Australian Government, Australian Armed forces, New South Wales Government, Peacekeeping Associations, Australian Federal Police, the Returned Services League and former and present peacekeepers.

On 8 May 2009, Acting Director for the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Canberra, Mr. Richard Towle, read the Secretary-General’s International Day of Vesak message to hundreds of members of the Australian Buddhist community. The reading was organised by the Australian Buddhist Federation as part of the celebrations for the International Day of Vesak.

The Day of Vesak is an important event in the Buddhist religion, celebrating the birth, enlightenment, and attainment of Nirvana by Buddha. Represented organisations at the event include the 60th Dhammachai Education Foundation of Australia and New Zealand and the United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation. The Venerable Geshe Dawa, a renowned Buddhist teacher, also attended the event.

Commenting on the event, the UNIC Canberra Director said that the United Nations’ commemoration of this day continues to affirm its strong commitment to the principle of respect for diversity and the acknowledgement of the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made – and continues to make - to the spirituality of humanity.