A world full of problems - UN at 70 - Does it have a future?

Guest Speaker: Dr Catherine Jones, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Programme Director for MA in International Politics, Director for International Relations of the Asia Pacific 
Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Warwick

Catherine will focus on the UN's successes, failures and future prospects for peace. Most importantly, she will look at how the UN can pursue its Charter goals of ending the scourge of war, promoting sustainable development, protecting human rights, mitigating climate change, and building peace and justice for all.

Currently, world leaders have assembled at the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate the UN's 70th birthday. But beyond the balloons, the bunting and the Ban Ki-moon speeches, there will be plenty of soul-searching about the future of the Organization. Its centrepiece – the Security Council – appears increasingly incapable of delivering security. Its peacekeepers can’t always keep the peace, its health body has been put under strain by the Ebola epidemic, while its refugee agency is struggling to deal with record numbers of people fleeing conflict or persecution. Its specialised agencies are struggling to balance their books. 

To commemorate UN70 we will be welcoming the Mayor of Leamington Spa for a presentation of a special edition UN Charter and cutting of a UN70-themed cake.