UNA-UK's branches, regions and nations have been out in force in recent weeks in celebration of the UN's 69th birthday. Marked each year on 24 October, the anniversary of the Organisation's founding, UN Day provides an excellent opportunity for members and supporters to show the UN their support.
As part of our UN Day outreach, Natalie Samarasinghe, Executive Director of UNA-UK, addressed the Annual General Meetings of UNA Scotland and UNA Edinburgh. Ben Donaldson, Communications & Campaigns Manager, spoke to UNA Canterbury about the Association's new programme on increasing UK support for UN peacekeeping.
UNA Southampton
UNA-UK's Policy & Advocacy Officer, Hayley Richardson, attended UNA Southampton's UN Day event. Co-hosted every year with the Mayor of Southampton, participants witnessed the raising of the UN flag in the city centre, a recital from a local school choir and a prayer offered by the Mayor's chaplain.
This was followed by a talk given by Hayley in the Council Chamber. The focus of her speech was the role of gender equality in the Sustainable Development Goals, the sucessor framework to the Millennium Development Goals, which are currently being negotiated at the UN. Hayley called for the inclusion of a universal gender equality goal firmly rooted in women's human rights.
