World leaders are meeting for the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly. For the first time meetings are bring held virtually, an ever-present reminder of the ongoing challenges the world is facing and critical need for leaders to work together.
Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the general debate saying "COVID-19 is not only a wake-up call, it is a dress rehearsal for the world of challenges to come... The pandemic has taught us that our choices matter. As we look to the future, let us make sure we choose wisely".
Meet Ingrid Laslett, this month's UN Alumni. Ingrid works in the UN Department of Political and Peace building Affairs (DPPA), focusing on the Gulf region and League of Arab States.
Ingrid has worked with the UN since 2012 and was previously with the DPPA Syria team, where she led a project to bring increase the participation of women in the Syrian peace process through establishing the Syrian Women’s Advisory Board. You can read more about Ingrid's experience with the UN and within the Middle East and North African region in our interview here!
Seeking Refuge in a Pandemic
Image: UNHCR Australia
With the onset of a global pandemic, refugees and asylum seekers continue to be some of the world's most marginalised and at risk peoples. The UNAA has published an article by Dr John Minns, highlighting some of the issues faced by refugees and asylum seekers in detention.
Dr Minns is Emeritus Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the Australian National University and calls on the Australian Government to provide community based detention and appropriate support. You can read the article by Dr Minns article here.
Nations United
Nations United is a first of its kind film, created by the United Nations on the 75th Anniversary of the UN and to mark five years since the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The film focuses on solutions to tackle inequality, injustice and climate change, and features UN Secretary-General António Guterres as well as a performance by Beyoncé.
UNSW and UN 'Verified' Campaign
Researchers at the University of New South Wales have been working to quantify the extent of COVID-19 misinformation. In a video shared by the United Nations, Dr Holly Seale and Md. Saiful Islam discuss the widespread evidence that misinformation is being spread around the world and the devastating effects this can have on people and their communities.
