Dear Reader,

Below we list the latest news and articles from our website related to international affairs and issues such as sustainable development.

Read these stories and more, plus information about forthcoming events, by following the links below.

You might also like the Coventry Climate Action Network website which we also maintain. Please check it out at https://covcan.uk/

Philip Brown

Secretary, UNA Coventry Branch
philip@unacov.uk

Recent Articles

See our website for more of our recent news articles.

Questions for General Election Candidates

Coventry United Nations Association want to publish the opinions about some of the urgent international issues facing the UK of all candidates standing in Coventry constituencies for the general election to be held on 4 July 2024. We would therefore like them to send us their responses to the following 10 questions and we will publish their answers on this …

Palestine Solidarity Campaign call to action

Palestine Solidarity Campaign asks everyone to write to your local councillors and ask them to stand with the Palestinian people..... it only takes two minutes. Demand your councillors support motions calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to end Israel’s assault. As well as advocate for the immediate divestment of any funds administered by the Council, including Local Government Pension Scheme …

Martin Griffiths sees Hope in Desperate Global Situation

Speaking at the Global Security Forum 2024 in Doha on 20 May, as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the United Nations Martin Griffiths said: "We once had a dream: a dream that we could come together to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. That we could develop friendly relations between nations, strengthen peace, and …

Countries recognise Palestine as a state

On 28 May, Ireland, Spain and Norway will formally recognise the state of Palestinian. They will join Sweden which recognised Palestine in 2014 and, according to the BBC, seven other EU member states which recognise Palestinian statehood. Ireland's Taoiseach Simon Harris said he was "confident that further countries will join us in taking this important step in the coming weeks". …

Pact for the Future

The world is not on track to meet the goals we have already set for ourselves. Nor are we effectively rising to new challenges or opportunities. The United Nations Summit of the Future, to be held from 22 to 23 September 2024, will bring world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and …

UNA-UK statement in response to the passing of the Rwanda Bill

United Nations Association UK published the following statement on 24 April 2024. The 1951 UN Refugee Convention set out refugee rights and the obligations of states to protect them which were then extended in the 1967 Protocol. The UK is a signatory of these conventions, which allows people to seek asylum in any country they choose. The convention prohibits penalisation …

General Assembly supports Palestinian membership of UN

On 10 May 2024, 143 out of 193 members of the UN General Assembly voted in favour of a resolution to upgrade Palestine’s rights at the United Nations as an observer State and urging the Security Council to favourably consider its full membership. The President of the General Assembly, Dennis Francis of Trinidad and Tobago, said: "As today’s United Nations, we …

Report on UK by UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights

Download the PDF here

Future of Multilateralism

The following statement was issued by the European High Representative, Josep Borrell, on International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, 24 April 2024. Multilateralism is under increasing strain and in need of urgent reform. But effective multilateralism is precisely what we need today, more than ever. And despite the complex global landscape, there have been successes - the endorsement …

Join UNA-UK

You can now join UNA-UK as a member for £10 per year and stand with us in support of a strong, credible and effective UN. Over the last 18 months, UNA-UK has been engaged in an extensive process of reviewing our engagement structures - how our members, supporters, and network of UNA Groups interact with us as an organisation and contribute to the …

Forthcoming Events

If you have an idea for an event you want us to organise, please contact events@unacov.uk

Deadline for Entries to Essay Award for Young Economists

3 June 2024 is the deadline for entries to the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) Essay Award for Young Economists. The aim of the award is to promote high-quality research on trade policy and international trade cooperation and to reinforce the relationship between the WTO and the academic community. The annual WTO Essay Award provides a prize of 5,000 Swiss Francs …

Pathways to Peace for Gaza, Palestine and Israel

Pathways to Peace is a new series of events from Justice for Palestinians (Leamington Spa). In the inaugural session on 5 June 2024 you will hear from two eminent speakers from the worlds of medicine and the law moderated by renowned human rights barrister Michael Mansfile KC. All three are united by a passion for dignity and justice for the …

Peace and Justice for Palestinians

Coventry Stop the War will organise this event on 21 June. Speakers will be: Zarah Sultana, MP for Coventry South Louise Regan, Chair of Palestine Solidarity Campaign in Friends Meeting House, Hill Street, Coventry CV1 4AN

Warwick & Leamington Spa General Election Candidates Question Time

Warwick & Leamington Spa General Election Candidates Question Time

On 29 June Warwick District UNA will hold a debate between candidates for the parliamentary election on 4 July in Leamington Spa Baptist Church. The candidates will be: Hema Yellapragada – The Green Party James Uffindell– Conservative Party Louis Adam – Lib-Dem Party Matt Western – Labour Party It is vital that political parties and parliamentary candidates address the …

International Day of Peace 2024

Each year the International Day of Peace (IDP) is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. Never has our world needed peace more. The theme for 2024 and other details will appear at https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-peace

UN Summit of the Future

The world is not on track to meet the goals we have already set for ourselves. Nor are we effectively rising to new challenges or opportunities. The United Nations Summit of the Future, to be held from 22 to 23 September 2024, will bring world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present …

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