Students at the conference on the UN at Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey

On 4 November 2009, Abant Izzet Baysal University in Bolu, Turkey hosted United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Ankara Information Officer Mr. Ahmet Parla at a conference on the United Nations.
 
Conference organized by the International Relations Club of the Izzet Baysal University was attended by approximately 300 students.
 
Mr. Parla gave information on the UN values and priorities, multiple crisis that challenges humanity and UN’s role to address them.  He also answered questions posed by the students.

United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Pretoria Director and National Information Officer were invited to the launch of the Democracy in Development Report, prepared by the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) and the European Union Presidency Project (EUPP).

The report is the culmination of a series of studies and consultations involving key institutions including the African Union, Association of Southeastern Asian Naitions, the League of Arab States and the Organisation of American States and was commissioned by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The launch was thus hosted by the Embassy of Sweden.

The launch provided the opportunity for the authors of the report to discuss the results and main findings of the project, including the African consultation held under the auspices of the AU Commission in February 2009 in Addis Ababa under the title “EU’s role in Democracy building in Africa.”

Ms. Ingrid Wetterqvist, the Director of International IDEA, delivered a presentation on the salient points in the report. She was followed by Dr Patrick Molutsi, the Executive Director of the Botswana Tertiary Education Council. Dr Molutsi used his own country as an example of a successful democracy though he cautioned against complacency and apathy.

Dr Joseph Diescho, the Director of International Relations at the University of South Africa was the additional panelist. Dr Diescho criticized the EU’s past engagement with African countries and questioned the sometimes ‘double standards’ of the EU in its dealings with African countries by turning a blind eye to the excesses of some regimes and only focusing on others.

The discussion period provided an opportunity for a wide range of issues to be raised by the audience which included five EU member state Ambassadors as well as representatives of academic and civil society.

The report and other public information materials by IDEA were handed out after the formal presentations. The NIO made contact with the IDEA colleagues and offered to share information materials with them. A meeting will be set up with the newly-established IDEA office in Pretoria shortly.

Children prepare for their performance of an African dance at the UN house on UN Day

On UN Day, with support of the UN country team, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Prague organized the UN Open House event, targeting secondary and High School students as well as the general public. Some 120 students from four different schools, and 30 others attended the full day programme which included lectures and presentations UN Secretary General’s UN Day message, the film UN Year in Review, Seal the Deal presentation, UNHCR photo exhibit, World Health Organization (WHO) children drawings exhibit and UNICEF’s “School in a Box“ presentation and exhibit. The programme also included an African dance performed by school kids in support of children in Africa.

Various information materials about the work of the UN including the Secretary General’s UN Day message, UNIC newsletter and Seal the Deal materials in Czech were disseminated during the Open House event. Among guests visiting the UN House were members of the Diplomatic Corps, government, local authorities as well as partner NGOs.

Henry Kiprono Kirwa of Kenya receives the UN Person of the award for his success in the Paralympics

Each year, the UN System in Kenya selects an individual or institution whose initiative has not attracted a great deal of publicity to them, but is involved in a sector where the UN system of organizations is also a player, who has succeeded in bringing to public notice significant issues related to the Millennium Development Goals, and whose achievements are sustainable and serve as an inspiration to all Kenyans.

The selection of the “UN in Kenya Person of the Year” is made after an extensive round of consultations and voting by all members of the UN Communications Group, whose decision is to be endorsement by the heads of UN Agencies.

This year's winner of the Person of the Year prize was Henry Kiprono Kirwa.  He is a Kenyan Paralympics champion in 10,000-, 5,000- and 1,500-metre running competitions.  He has been making efforts to fight poverty using sports despite his disability.

He was born virtually impaired in Kapsabet in the Rift Valley Province. In spite of this, he has demonstrated that disability is not inability and that through sports, youth can break away from poverty. Mr. Henry won three gold medals at the 2008 Paralympics held in Beijing, China, soon after the Olympics games.

His success is a result of hard work and perseverance, which have  helped him to become and endearing to the youth who are encouraged and many are already emulating him by working hard to succeed like him.