UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Message on Human Rights Day, 10 December 2015

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Amid large-scale atrocities and widespread abuses across the world, Human Rights Day should rally more concerted global action to promote the timeless principles that we have collectively pledged to uphold.

In a year that marks the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, we can draw inspiration from the history of the modern human rights movement, which emerged from the Second World War.

At that time, President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States identified four basic freedoms as the birthright of all people: freedom of expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear.  His wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, joined forces at the United Nations with human rights champions from around the world to enshrine these freedoms in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Continue reading

UNIC Dhaka and IUB jointly organized Workshop for UN Library Network


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A view of workshop participants at IUB. Photo: UNIC DhakaDhaka, 26 November 2015: UNIC Dhaka and Independent University Bangladesh (IUB) jointly organized a day-long workshop under the banner of UN Library Network on 26 November 2015 at IUB Auditorium. A Key-note paper on ‘Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and COP21’ was delivered by M. Aminul Islam, Senior Advisor for Sustainable Development, UNDP Bangladesh. Another presentation on ‘Impact of ICT in library and information services’ was given by Dr. Mahady Hasan, Head of the Department of Computer Science, School of Engineering and Computer Science, IUB. The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Shahriar Khan, Professor and Dean of School of Engineering and Computer Science of IUB as chief guest while M. Moniruzzaman, Officer-in-Charge of UNIC Dhaka moderated the workshop. Hossam Haider Chowdhury, Librarian, IUB also spoke on the occasion. A ‘Talk on SDG and Research4 Life’ was delivered by Dr. M. Nazim Uddin, Senior Manager and Head, ICDDR,B Library. Around forty library and information professionals from public, private, NGOs, academic and international institutions took part in the workshop.

Press conference for UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Financing for Development (UNSGSA) Queen Maxima at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka

UNSGSA Queen Maxima in a press conference in Dhaka/Photo-UNIC DhakaDhaka, 18 November 2015: UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Financing for Development (UNSGSA) Queen Maxima of Netherlands visited Bangladesh during 16 to 18 November 2015 by an invitation of Government of Bangladesh. Prior to her departure on 18 November 2015, a Press Conference was organized at Pan Pacific Sonargoan Hotel in Dhaka. UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Robert Watkins moderated the press conference while the Governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr. Atiur Rahman was present. The senior journalists of major media outlets took part in the press conference. The UNSGSA shared the experiences of Bangladesh during visit and take part in question answer session. The media event was organized by UN Bangladesh, in coordination with Royal Netherlands Embassy and UNIC Dhaka.

Celebration of UN Day and UN 70th Anniversary: Turn the World UN Blue Art Contest, 24 October 2015

UN Blue Art ContestDhaka, 24 October, 2015: In commemoration of United Nations 70th Anniversary and UN Day 2015, UNIC Dhaka jointly with Dhakabashi, and National Federation of Youth  Organizations in Bangladesh (NFYOB) organized a Children Art Contest under the campaign of ‘Turn the World UN Blue’ on 24 October 2015. The event was inaugurated by Haji Muhammad Selim,MP in the premises of Lalbagh Fort, a historical landmark of in Old Dhaka. The students of different schools took part in the art contest. Among others, the organizers and local social workers spoke on the occasion. A number of volunteers of Dhakabashi also took part in the event.

UN 70th Anniversary commemorated in the city

UNRC speaks at UN Day symposiumDhaka, 24 October 2015: UN Resident Coordinator Robert Watkins urged all stakeholders to work together to achieve the new global goals of sustainable development by the year 2030. He was speaking as a guest of honour in a symposium at a local hotel in Dhaka organized by UN Association of Bangladesh to mark the UN 70th Anniversary. Mr. Mizanur Rahman, Secretary (Bilateral and Consular) of Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke on the occasion as chief guest while UNAB President Justice Ebadul Hoque chaired the session. The key-note paper was presented by renowned economist Dr. Q. K. Ahmed. The UNAB Secretary-General Prof Syed Muhammad Shahed moderated the symposium. Among others, government and UN officials, NGO and civil society representatives and UNAB members took part in the symposium.

Op-ed – United Nations Day 2015: The United Nations at 70, by Robert D. Watkins, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh

UNRC PhotoAt the close of the Second World War in 1945, the world had never seen destruction on such a scale, with the estimated death toll in six years of fighting ranging from 40 million to as high as 85 million people, most of them civilians, and two continents left in post-war ruins. By some estimates, a further 60 million people were made refugees, almost 3% of the global population at the time.

After years of negotiations, as one of the most brutal wars in human history raged and finally came to an end, on 24 October 1945 the United Nations was founded, creating a Charter that is still resonant today and which Member States are beholden to observe. The frst task of the UN in the wake of the war was to rebuild, reconstruct, and lay the foundations for international cooperation and peace so that a war of such magnitude could be avoided in the future. Continue reading

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Message on United Nations Day, 24 October 2015

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National flags are a mark of pride and patriotism in every country around the world.  But there is only one flag that belongs to all of us.

That blue flag of the United Nations was a banner of hope for me growing up in wartime Korea.
Seven decades after its founding, the United Nations remains a beacon for all humanity.
Every day, the United Nations feeds the hungry and shelters those driven from their homes. Continue reading

UN Day, 24 October: Global landmarks are lit as part of the ‘Turn the World UN Blue’ Campaign

UN Headquarters lit in UN blue © UN PhotoTo help celebrate the UN’s 70th anniversary, more than 300 iconic monuments, buildings, statues, bridges, and other landmarks in nearly 75 countries across the globe will be lit up blue on UN Day, 24 October, as part of an exciting new global campaign which helps unite global citizens and promote the message of peace, development and human rights.
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Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping 2015

World Leaders gather in New York ahead of the Leaders' Summit, 28 September 2015

This year’s Leaders’ Summit was a historic moment for UN Peacekeeping with unprecedented levels of support coming from all regions of the globe.

On 28 September 2015, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. President Barack Obama joined nearly 50 heads of state and government representatives from around the world to announce significant new contributions to UN Peacekeeping.

Pledges amounted to more than 40,000 troops and police, as well as critical enablers including more than 40 helicopters, 22 engineering companies, 11 naval and riverine units, and 13 field hospitals. Continue reading

UN adopts new Global Goals, charting sustainable development for people and planet by 2030

Projections on SDGs and UN 70th Anniversary. UN Photo/Cia Pak25 September 2015 – The 193-Member United Nations General Assembly today formally adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, along with a set of bold new Global Goals, which Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hailed as a universal, integrated and transformative vision for a better world.

“The new agenda is a promise by leaders to all people everywhere. It is an agenda for people, to end poverty in all its forms – an agenda for the planet, our common home,” declared Mr. Ban as he opened the UN Sustainable Development Summit which kicked off today and wraps up Sunday. Continue reading