Dear Reader,

We have been busy this month recruiting another set of university volunteers to help us with our projects. Some of them will be helping out with the Young People's Conference on Peace and Reconciliation. Others will be Climate Reporters or work on the connection between climate change and mental health.

We will be running another Restorative Justice Conference in November and invite everyone to come along on  to find out more about how the people of Coventry can take part in this exciting new way to deal with the effects of crime and anti-social behaviour. 

Selections of our other news and forthcoming events are given below. Visit our website to see everything we are doing.

Philip Brown

Secretary, UNA Coventry Branch
philip@unacov.uk

Recent News Highlights

See our website for more of our recent news articles.

Climate Reporters

One of the projects that UNA Coventry is running is Climate Reporters. Volunteers will visit local businesses, universities, schools and departments of Coventry City Council to find out about projects they are already running to reduce carbon emissions. They will then write web reports or create short videos. These reports will be published on our websites and will help inspire …

Read more.

University Volunteer Fairs

UNA Coventry participated in Volunteer Fairs at both Coventry and Warwick universities and received around 200 expressions of interest from students ranging from freshers to masters students. We held several meetings to explain the role of UNA Coventry and discuss the projects we are currently running or planning. It looks like being an exciting year for this branch of UNA.

Read more.

Climate Emotion

The United Nations Association Coventry Branch has started a project to raise awareness of the link between climate change and mental health by creating an online platform to share articles/write blog posts/create videos/distribute fliers. It will aim to assess the impact of climate change on mental health and recommend future strategies. The link between climate change and mental health is …

Read more.

UNA-UK's Statement on Extinction Rebellion

This article was first published on the UNA-UK website on 7 October. UNA-UK has a long track record of campaigning for urgent action to prevent climate change. We produce an annual publication, Climate 2020, which provides a space for experts and practitioners to discuss ongoing attempts to limit global warming. We see this as an integral part of our mission. UNA-UK exists to build …

Read more.

Update on Human Rights up Front

We published an article about Human Rights up Front in 2016. Here is an update which was first published by United Nations Association UK on 23 October 2019. Today we grant the Sir Brian Urquhart Award for Distinguished Service to the UN to Andrew Gilmour - Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights. Mr Gilmour heads up OHCHR’s Office in New York and has …

Read more.

#UN75 Survey

#UN75 Survey

To mark its 75th anniversary in 2020, the United Nations is launching the biggest-ever global conversation on the role of global cooperation in building the future we want. See #UN75 for more details. On this page you can vote on the 3 questions we are asking.

Read more.

UNA-UK's Statement on the Turkish invasion of Northern Syria

This article was first published on 14 October 2019 on the UNA-UK website. UNA-UK is deeply concerned by the situation unfolding in Northern Syria as a consequence of the Turkish invasion. There is a significant risk that this action will lead to a substantial number of deaths, and further deepen the humanitarian crisis in Syria. We urge all parties to …

Read more.

UN-Habitat

UN-Habitat works for a better urban future. Based in over 90 countries, we promote the development of socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements and strive for adequate shelter with better living standards for all. Urbanization is happening at a phenomenal rate. Half the world's population now live in cities, and this is projected to increase to two-thirds by 2050. Cities …

Read more.

#UN75

#UN75

To mark its 75th anniversary in 2020, the United Nations is launching the biggest-ever global conversation on the role of global cooperation in building the future we want. Tackling issues such as the climate crisis, inequality, new patterns of violence and the major changes we are seeing in population and technology in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals - …

Read more.

UNA-UK's response to the UN's cash shortfall

This article was first published by UNA-UK on 16 October 2019. Last week UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that UN staff may not be paid in November as a result of member states’ failure to pay their annual contributions. The UN has three main sources of income: assessed contributions, peacekeeping contributions and voluntary contributions. Assessed contributions fund what is called the ‘regular’ budget, intended …

Read more.

Forthcoming Events

Please get in touch if you want to help organise an event. Please contact events@unacov.uk

WFUNA International Model UN (WIMUM) 2019

WIMUN offers the most accurate simulation of the United Nations by using the WIMUN approach and features training and briefings delivered by UN officials. WIMUN Geneva, to be held from 30 Oct to 2 Nov, will be held at the Centre International de Conférences Genève near the UN Office in Geneva. More information www.wimun.org facebook.com/wimungeneva  

Read more.

Together First Activist Summit

The Together First Activist Summit will be run by the United Nations Association UK on Saturday 2 November in London not far from Euston Station. The aim is to identify feasible solutions to some of the catastrophic risks facing the world. From climate change to weapons proliferation, the Together First Activist Summit is your opportunity to tell world leaders what …

Read more.

Coventry Young People’s Peace and Reconciliation Conference 2019

Coventry Young People’s Peace and Reconciliation Conference 2019

The United Nations Association Coventry Branch and Coventry Lord Mayor’s Committee for Peace and Reconciliation invite teachers and home educators to bring up to 3 students from years 6 to 9 (age 10-14) to talk to peace activists and organisations fighting crime and violence at: Coventry Young People’s Peace and Reconciliation Conference 2019 on the morning of Friday 8 November …

Read more.

Paris Peace Forum 2019

On 11-13 November 2019, the Paris Peace Forum will place global governance at the top of the international agenda for the second time with its annual Forum. It is a unique event where stakeholders discuss global governance issues and cooperate on innovative solutions. In 2018, 65 Heads of State and Government as well as 10 leaders from international organizations attended …

Read more.

Coventry Restorative Justice Conference 2019

Coventry Restorative Justice Conference 2019

What is Restorative Justice? How does it help victims of crime and anti-social behaviour? Is it really more effective than prison? Come along to our conference on 12 November and find the answer to all these questions. Why Restorative Justice? Our current criminal justice system focuses on punishing the offender. Reoffending rates are high. Many victims feel ignored. Restorative justice …

Read more.

Warwick Model United Nations Conference 2019

Warwick Model United Nations Conference 2019

Warwick University's United Nations Society will be running their 13th Model United Nations Conference 2019 (WARMUN XIII) from 22 to 24 November. This is the UK's premier crisis conference and promises to be intellectually challenging and full of unexpected twists! WARMUN is unique in that it is a joint-cabinet crisis conference. This means that it includes both a simulation of …

Read more.

Human Rights Day 2019

The United Nations has designated 10 December as Human Rights Day to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a milestone document that proclaims the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being -- regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national …

Read more.

UNA Coventry AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Coventry Branch of the United Nations Association will be held at 18:00 to 20:00 on Thursday 23 January in Coventry Council House. There will be a short formal meeting to hear reports from the Chair and Secretary and to elect Officers for 2020 followed by a talk from Dr. Math Noortmann Executive Director,  Academic …

Read more.

FGM logo

International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women and girls. The practice also violates their rights to sexual and …

Read more.

LIMUN 2020

The London International Model United Nations is the LIMUN Foundation's flagship annual event, welcoming over 1200 delegates to the great cosmopolitan capital of Britain for three days of intensive debate and exciting social events. Our 21st edition will take place from 21st to 23rd February 2020. The conference consists of a simulation of United Nations organs and other fora of …

Read more.

COP26

The UK and Italy are the favourites to jointly host the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) from 9 to 19 November 2020. The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Italy would host preparatory events and a significant ‘youth event’, in recognition of the disproportionate impact that climate change will …

Read more.

Produced by United Nations Association Coventry branch.

Thank you for subscribing. If you find this newsletter interesting please tell your friends to visit the unacov.uk website and subscribe!

Please follow us on Twitter @UNACoventry, like our Facebook page and follow our LinkedIn page.