May was another busy month for the new UNA Coventry Branch, and with the EU Referendum quickly approaching as well as the debate over the new UN Secretary-General, things won't get much calmer in June!
Whether the UK leaves or remains in the European Union has implications for the UK's position on the world stage, including its relationship with the UN. UNA-UK has already asked both official sides of the campaign for statements on these issues, and their responses are published and podcast on this website, both "leave" and "remain". A live discussion between advocates …
As the current Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, prepares to step down at the end of 2016, for the first time in history, candidates competing to be next UN leader will take part in public debates organised by UNA-UK in partnership with the Guardian, Future UN Development System Project (CUNY Graduate Center) and the Embassy of Denmark. This debate, to be held in …
It has long been recognised that the UN is in need of reform. The veto of the five permanent members of the Security Council and the secretive method of appointing the Secretary-General are only two of the issues which have been raised. But what reforms are really needed, and what is stopping them from being implemented? This discussion will focus …
On 25 May, sessional lecturer at the University of Warwick Kseniya Oksamytna gave a well-received presentation to the Coventry Branch of the United Nations Association about the Secretary-General’s role and functions. She looked at the current and previous Secretaries-General and their relations with the great powers, talke about the election process itself and examined the profiles of the candidates who have entered the race …
Whether the UK leaves or remains in the European Union has implications for the UK’s position on the world stage, including its relationship with the UN. UNA-UK has already asked both official sides of the campaign for statements on these issues, and their responses are published and podcast on this website, both “leave” and “remain“. Coventry City Council staged a …
In just one day the race for the popular vote for the next Secretary-General of the the United Nations has been swamped by a landslide in favour of Moldovan candidate Natalia Gherman. So how did she attain this dominant position, and can any of the other candidates catch up? The term of Ban Ki-moon as UN Secretary-General will end in …
The number of votes in our poll for the next UN Secretary-General to 05:16 UTC on 28 May 2016 were: António Guterres 1 Danilo Türk 5 Helen Clark 11 Irina Bokova 7 Natalia Gherman 915 Vuk Jeremic 3 Igor Lukšic 2 Vesna Pusic 2 Susana Malcorra 3 Srgjan Kerim 1 Miroslav Lajcak 3 Cast Your Vote Now You can find …
In May 2016, the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) will be hosting, for the first time ever, open debates for the Member States competing for a seat as a non-permanent member to the Security Council in the upcoming elections in June. Five seats are to be contested in the elections on 28 June 2016. The Candidates for the …
UNA-UK asked both the official "leave" and "remain" campaigns for short statements on what they considered would be the impact that the outcome of the referendum will have on the UK's role on the world stage, including its relationship with the United Nations. Specifically, UNA-UK asked: How will the outcome of the EU referendum affect the UK’s role on the …
UNA-UK asked both the official "leave" and "remain" campaigns for short statements on what they considered would be the impact that the outcome of the referendum will have on the UK's role on the world stage, including its relationship with the United Nations. Specifically, UNA-UK asked: How will the outcome of the EU referendum affect the UK’s role on the …
From supporting peace agreements in Cyprus to protecting individuals from gender-based violence in South Sudan, UK men and women risk their own safety in the service of peace. Yet they rarely receive public recognition for their work. There is no UK medal for civilian, military and police peacekeepers, nor a national day of remembrance in the UK. With the UK doubling …
UNA-UK’s 15,000 members and supporters know that what happens in other countries shapes their own lives. Yet despite the increasing extent to which British citizens’ interests are being affected by global crises - climate change, pandemics, terrorism - foreign policy barely featured in parties' election campaigns. We are deeply concerned that British policy-makers continue to underestimate the need to invigorate …
