Ka nui te mihi kia koutou katoa - UNA
Dear Members and Supporters of the United Nations Association
Welcome to the September newsletter. The resurgence of COVID-19 in the community last month meant that many of our events were postponed. This month, however, as restrictions ease we are back in the swing of things. Join us on Thursday this week at our climate change webinar, join us next month at our UN Day celebration, and join us later in the year at lecture style events and Human Rights Day which we are currently in the process of planning. Read about these events and sign up for them below.
Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou
United Nations Association of New Zealand Annual Reception to Celebrate UN Day
Details UN Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being.
There is no other global organization with the legitimacy, convening power and normative impact of the United Nations. Today, the urgency for all countries to come together, to fulfil the promise of the nations united, has rarely been greater.
Join us on the Wellington waterfront at Shed 5 to mark this special occasion. Hear from Sir Kenneth Keith about his time on the International Court of Justice as he echos the urgency for all to re-commit to the goals of the United Nations. Canapes and drinks are included in the ticket prices.
The UN's call to 'Code Red for Humanity' - UNA NZ Webinar on the IPCC Report
After the IPCC release of the Assessment Report in August, and with the upcoming COP26 in November, the United Nations Association of New Zealand (UNA NZ) National branch will host a short webinar panel in the evening of Thursday 23rd September.
The Working Group gave their contribution to the 6th IPCC Assessment Report (coming out in 2022) on August 9th. The group examines the physical science underpinning past, present, and future climate change. A key takeaway from the report is that human influence is a key driver of the climate crisis, and that the window for mitigating and adapting is closing rapidly.
As the world leaders are preparing to meet in Glasgow to discuss the ongoing environmental crisis and the Working Group I report, UNA NZ are hosting a panel of experts from various sectors via Zoom, who will discuss the key takeaways from the report, and how the report should be utilised for an effective COP26 in November.
Join us at 5.30pm Thursday 23rd September for this apt and educational event!
This event is free for members.
Zoom link will be sent out to all attendees as we approach the event day.
PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE
Hon Julie Anne Genter, list MP for the Green Party, will be the moderator of the panel. Julie Anne is the current Deputy Chairperson of the Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee, and is the Green Party spokesperson for several portfolios, including COVID-19 Response, as well as Building and Construction.
Dr Olaf Morgenstern is a Climate and Atmosphere Principal Scientist at NIWA. Olaf is a Lead Author of the 6th Assessment Report of the IPCC, and is a member of the Scientific Steering Committee of the Chemistry-Climate Model Initiative.
Pip Best is an Ernst & Young (EY) Oceania Partner and the New Zealand Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader. Previously, she has worked in capital markets and sustainability roles, as well as developing sustainable financial products in Asia Pacific.
Professor Priya Kurian is Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at the University of Waikato. Her areas of research, public engagement and teaching spans multiple disciplines, including environmental politics, gender politics, critical public policy and development studies.
General Debate of the 76th Session of the General Assembly 21 to 25 September and 27 September 2021
Theme
"Building resilience through hope – to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalize the United Nations”.
COVID-19
This year, the debate will be conducted in a hybrid fashion, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Heads of State or Government may elect to either deliver their statement live from the podium in the General Assembly Hall, or have a delegate introduce their pre-recorded statement.
Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the UN
Amnesty international Gary Ware Legacy Award for Human Rights call for applications/nominations
Amnesty International NZ invite applications/nominations of youth human rights advocates or youth-led human rights projects for the Gary Ware Legacy Award for Human Rights. The winning individual or group receives $4000 to assist their human rights project/work. Applications due by October 31. The award will be given to the winning project on December 10, UN Human Rights Day.
If you know of young human rights activist/advocate or youth-led project that is exciting, innovative and could make a difference in advancing human rights, we invite you to find out more at https://www.amnesty.org.nz/award and make an application. It only takes 10 minutes to apply.
The award was established by Amnesty International New Zealand in 2020 with support from the family of Gary Ware, a passionate human rights advocate who inspired young people to get involved during his decades-long engagement in Amnesty International. Young people around the world are showing that they have the knowledge, the vision, the organising skills, the creativity and the determination to be a major part of the transformation of our societies. The award is part of Amnesty International’s broader work to support youth in the field of human rights.
Our independent youth branch UN Youth is excited to announce that the Youth Declaration 2021 is finally out! Find it at bit.ly/youthdeclaration21.
The Youth Declaration 2021 highlights the priorities that youth would like to see addressed in Aotearoa. It was created by youth from all walks of life who attended UN Youth's national civics conference for high school students, Aotearoa Youth Declaration (AYD). AYD is a four-day conference that gathers 150-350 young people from all over the country to share their views on the decisions being made now and into the future. They are placed in groups learning and sharing on the topics they're passionate about - from climate change to mental health to modernising NCEA. All their views are compiled in the Youth Declaration 2021.
We hope you share the declaration far and wide. Everyone is welcome to read this document - from family members to friends to schools to councils to local businesses to elected MPs. We hope that everyone reflects on how we all have something to offer to help our communities flourish. This is embodied by the well-known whakataukī the conference was centered around: Nā to rourou, nā taku rourou, ka ora ai te iwi. (With your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive.)
Organisations are encouraged to reflect on the Youth Declaration 2021:
What were your organisation's overall thoughts on the Youth Declaration 2021?
How is your organisation working towards some of the priorities in the Youth Declaration 2021?
How is your organisation engaging with youth to ensure their voices are heard when decisions are being made?
Goal of the month
In August, the Goal of the Month editorial focuses on the General Assembly
2021 remains a pivotal year to restore balance with nature, tackle the climate emergency, and get ahead of the pollution crisis, while ensuring no one is left behind. Global leaders will meet at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly from 20 September to participate in several high-level events to discuss the transformation and restoration needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. The meetings will focus on some of today’s most urgent challenges, including the struggle to confront racism and discrimination; the ever-growing threat of climate change and biodiversity loss; and the need for renewable energy, and sustainable food systems.
Ahead of the organization’s most significant gathering of the year, the September edition of the Goal of the Month editorial looks at Sustainable Development Goals-related high-level events to look out for during the General Assembly.
All events will be streamed on UN Web TV live or pre-recorded.
In the lead up to the General Assembly, the United Nations will launch the Keeping the Promise campaign – designed to inspire a global movement to drive better recovery and deliver the 2030 promise. The multilingual social media activation aims to start a global movement that will drive a better recovery and deliver the 2030 promise, encouraging participants from all sectors of society, to share how they plan to keep the promise.
The United Nations will mark the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the UN’s blueprint for concrete action to address racism, xenophobia and related intolerance, during the General Assembly. Taking place under the theme, Reparations, Racial Justice and Equality for People of African Descent, the high-level meeting will highlight the need to make amends for centuries of violence and discrimination. Learn more about the UN Human Rights Office’s efforts to fight racism.
The UN Food Systems Summit aims to deliver progress on all 17 SDGs through a food systems approach, leveraging the interconnectedness of food systems to global challenges such as hunger, climate change, poverty, and inequality. The Summit will bring together key players from the worlds of science, business, policy, healthcare, and academia, as well as farmers, indigenous people, youth organizations, consumer groups, environmental activists, and other key stakeholders.
Register here to get involved and subscribe to receive latest updates. A social media toolkit is available on a dedicated Trello board. More information is available in the media advisory. Check out the Summit’s informative podcast called Laying Down Tracks.
Read more about all the events and activitiesoccurringhere.
The Archibald Baxter Memorial Trust Annual Peace Lecture 2021
The Archibald Baxter Memorial Trust Annual Peace Lecture 2021 - A conversation on peacebuilding in the 21st century
This online webinar will feature a panel discussion around modern peacebuilding between Helen Clarke, Ingrid Leary, Professor Robert Patman and Professor Kevin Clements.
The panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A session.
The panel will take place on Wednesday 22 September 5:30-7:00pm
UN Says 'unacceptable' deals and delays hampering lifesaving COVAX deliveries
COVID-19: ‘Unacceptable’ deals and delays, hampering lifesaving COVAX deliveries
While 80 per cent of citizens in high and upper-middle income nations have had a dose of COVID-19 vaccine, that figure stands at just 20 per cent for those living below the top tiers, according to a joint statement issued by UN and partner agencies, responsible for the multilateral COVAX initiative to provide equal access for all.
Geoffrey Miller: Covid-19’s impact on New Zealand’s diplomacy continues
Analysis - New Zealand's latest Covid-19 outbreak has once again delayed the country's return to top-level face-to-face diplomacy - but this comes at a cost.
"New Zealand's new outbreak of Covid-19 has also stalled an attempt to restart the country's top-level diplomatic engagement.
Given the Delta variant's spread in Auckland, a rumoured trip to the UN General Assembly in New York later this month by Jacinda Ardern is now all but off the table."
K-pop stars BTS dip into global diplomacy at United Nations gathering
"It was a United Nations speech that got attention like few others — a plug for vaccines, young people and the earth's well being from superstar K-pop band BTS.
Addressing the stage for a sustainability event, the seven-member musical juggernaut appeared before the renowned green-marbled backdrop in the General Assembly hall on Monday to help promote UN goals for 2030 including ending extreme poverty, preserving the planet and achieving gender equality."
Annual Peace Lecture Office of the Auditor General Sustainable Development Goals report ANZUS at 70: How Does New Zealand View the Treaty Today?
"With ANZUS having turned 70, how does New Zealand view the Treaty today? In political opinion, virtually not at all; in terms of its legal, strategic and cultural context, the answer is more complex and nuanced." Writes our former Vice President and Special Officer for UN Renewal, Dr Kennedy Graham.
The 2021 Secondary Schools Peace Symposium took place in Auckland in August prior to the lockdown.
The event was very successful and UNA NZ was proud to provide a range of SDG materials for the participants. See some photos from the conference below and read more about the symposium here.
Don't forget you can read our annual publication online!
Our annual publication UNA NZ NEWS has launched! Only online for now, but printed copies will become available soon, production and distribution of these has been delayed due to COVID-19.
A great thanks is owed to our former National Administrator Chris Vogliano and our design intern CJ who spend considerable time curating the publication. We are grateful to our intelligent and experienced special officers who made valuable and informative contributions to the publication regarding their respective fields.
You can read it online here via a pdf on our website or on Issuu here
UNA NZ Education Portal Resources
Curious to know what our education portal actually is?
The UNA NZ Education Portal is an excellent web page for UN-related resources.
The resources on this site are designed for primary school aged children. If you are an educator please use these resources as you wish. We also encourage educators, students and parents to contribute to the portal to help it grow. Find out how you can contribute here.
Check out our about page to watch an introductory video, read updates, learn how to contribute and most importantly, how you can take advantage of these resources to make learning exciting for your students.
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