The Counter-Terrorism Conference we ran in Coventry Council House on 14 March was extremely successful, attracting visitors from London and Paris as well as being featured on BBC Midlands Today television and a report in the Coventry Observer. Feedback after the event was overwhelmingly positive.

See the news items below for a fuller report, including a recording of the question and answer session.

Our main event season has now ended, but throughout the spring and summer we will be busy preparing for our new programme. This will mainly focus on the Restorative Justice project, working with UNA Ambassadors and other partners in the city.

If you would like to get engaged with this exciting project, please let me know.

Philip Brown

Secretary, UNA Coventry Branch
philip@unacov.uk

Summary of March News

Coventry Restorative Justice Project

When a child misbehaves it is often punished by its parents or teachers. This is called “retributive justice”. Most rulers and governments have used this system for thousands of years. The aim is to punish the offender. The same system has been used for international conflicts, when victorious nations claim payment, land or other retribution from the losers. But a …

UNA-UK Yemen Campaign

UNA-UK Yemen Campaign

Today, 26 March 2018, marks the third anniversary of the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen. Three years of conflict has brought Yemen to its knees. Over a million have contracted cholera and eight times that number are on the brink of famine. There are 13 new civilian casualties per day, mostly caused by Saudi-led airstrikes. Medical facilities and schools have been …

Wonderful Start to the UNA Ambassadors Project

Students from both Coventry and Warwick Universities have just finished a pilot run of two workshops in Coventry Schools dealing with War and Peace. The feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive, and their constructive comments will help us to make the workshops even better when we run them in the autumn. Likewise the teachers were very enthusiastic. A typical …

The Elders call for decisive action to end sectarian violence in Sri Lanka

The Elders call for decisive action to end sectarian violence in Sri Lanka

Statement first published by the Elders 16 March 2018 The Elders today called on the Government of Sri Lanka to act with greater urgency and thoroughness to end sectarian violence targeting Muslim communities on the island. They noted that the Government has taken some measures to counter the criminal violence, but also warned that since unrest erupted on 5 March, …

Understanding radicalisation and raising awareness in Coventry

The following press release was issued by Coventry City Council on 15 March 2018. Two former extremists were among dozens of students and residents who were at an event yesterday helping people to understand more about radicalisation in the city. The event, held at the Council House, titled Coventry Counter-Terrorism, was organised by the United Nations Association Coventry Branch. Researchers …

United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC)

United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC)

The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) is part of the international emergency response system for sudden-onset emergencies. It is designed to help the United Nations and governments of disaster-affected countries during the first phase of a sudden-onset emergency. UNDAC also assists in the coordination of incoming international relief at national level and/or at the site of the emergency. …

Report on Counter-Terrorism Conference

The UNA Coventry Branch, Coventry University, West Midlands Counter-Terrorism Unit and Coventry City Council held a Counter-Terrorism Conference in the Council House on 14 March 2018. This conference had two aims: 1) To help young people recognise when they are being radicalised and how to avoid it by listening to the stories of two ex-extremists, Shahid Butt and Ivan Humble. 2) …

Forthcoming Events

Please get in touch if you want to help organise an event to help Coventry to celebrate one of the following UN-designated days. Please contact events@unacov.uk

World Autism Awareness Day

World Autism Awareness Day is 2 April. In 2018 the theme will be Empowering Women and Girls with Autism "On World Autism Awareness Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to promote the full participation of all people with autism, and ensure they have the necessary support to be able to exercise their rights and fundamental freedoms." Secretary-General António Guterres Throughout …

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

6 April is International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. Due to its vast reach, unparalleled popularity and foundation of positive values, sport is ideally positioned to contribute towards the United Nations’ objectives for development and peace. In the Declaration of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sport’s role for social progress is further acknowledged: "Sport is also an important enabler of …

World Health Day

April 7 is designated by the United Nations as World Health Day. The World Health Organisation (one the UN agencies) is promoting universal health coverage. Test you knowledge of universal health coverage here. https://youtu.be/CyRJ2ZcC07M

English Language Day

23 April is officially designated as English Language Day. There are six language days designated by the UN, one for each of the UN's six official languages. Language Days aim to entertain as well as inform, with the goal of increasing awareness and respect for the history, culture and achievements of each of the six working languages among the UN community. …

World Malaria Day

25 April is World Malaria Day. In 2018 the theme is "Ready to beat malaria". WHO joins partner organizations in promoting this year’s World Malaria Day theme, Ready to Beat Malaria. This theme underscores the collective energy and commitment of the global malaria community in uniting around the common goal of a world free of malaria. It highlights the remarkable progress …

International Jazz Day

Wynton Marsalis (left) and Christian McBride perform at the first International Jazz Day at UN Headquarters in New York In November 2011, the UNESCO General Conference proclaimed 30 April as "International Jazz Day". The Day is intended to raise awareness in the international community of the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for peace, unity, dialogue and …

World Press Freedom Day

3 May is World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993. With the honest media in many countries currently being accused of peddling "fake news" by politicians who habitually lie to their own people, and who do not seem to understand the vital role that a free press plays in the democratic process, this is …

International Day of Living Together in Peace

16 May 2018 will be the first time that the International Day of Living Together in Peace has been celebrated, having only been officially recognised by the General Assembly in December 2017. The adoption of this day was the result of efforts by AISA International. Background to their work can be found here. Their mission is "to create a worldwide movement …

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

21 May marks World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. Why does cultural diversity matter? Three-quarters of the world’s major conflicts have a cultural dimension. Bridging the gap between cultures is urgent and necessary for peace, stability and development. Cultural diversity is a driving force of development, not only with respect to economic growth, but also as a means of leading a more …

International Day for Biological Diversity

22 May is International Day for Biological Diversity. Why an International Day for Biological Diversity? While there is a growing recognition that biological diversity is a global asset of tremendous value to present and future generations, the number of species is being significantly reduced by certain human activities. The Convention on Biological Diversity is the international legal instrument for "the conservation of biological …

International Day of UN Peacekeepers

29 May is the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. "On this International Day of UN Peacekeepers we pay tribute to more than 113,000 ‘Blue Helmets’, UN Police and civilian personnel deployed to 16 missions. We acknowledge the contribution made by an ever-growing number of Member States to our operations. Their efforts on behalf of the international community are one of the …

Community Information Fair

On 22 June 2018 the UNA Coventry Branch will man a stall at the Positive Images Community Information Fair in Smithford Way, Coventry. Drop by and meet the team and find out more about what the United Nations Association is doing in Coventry and how you can get involved.

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