On Thursday 27 October, UNA-UK marked the 77th anniversary of the United Nations by presenting the Sir Brian Urquhart Award to Rt Hon. Clare Short, Former Secretary of State for International Development of the UK.
Named in honour of a former UN civil servant whose service spanned four decades, the award celebrates individuals whose work reflects Sir Brian’s own dedication and endeavour. Honouring her dedicated work championing Official Development Assistance and energising the Millennium Development Goals, this year’s award came not in the form of a trophy, but instead as a donation to the Eden Reforestation Projects.
UNA-UK was delighted to mark this UN Day with the Embassy of Austria, marking our first in-person event since the Covid-19 pandemic began. We were joined by guests from across the diplomatic community, civil society, the media and UK government. Michael Zimmerman, Austrian Ambassador to the UK opened the event, highlighting the vital work carried out by the UN and civil society:
It's very important that the work of the United Nations and the Charter of the United Nations gets the support and push from civil society around the world. That's necessary in all things I think. And how it can be done is shown by UNA-UK.
Marissa Conway, CEO of UNA-UK, presented the award. Introducing Clare Short, Marissa emphasised the importance of international cooperation:
As we celebrate UN Day I encourage us not just to embrace the longevity of the UN but the role that global collaboration has in building this more equal, more sustainable, more peaceful world.
UNA-UK was honoured to be joined by Clare Short, who delivered the keynote speech on international development, conflict, the climate crisis and the importance of the UN:
I believe that our country should be proud that we helped to contribute to the building of a sustainable World Order. This work has been interrupted but we must get back to it. This is the most important task for all of us because humanity is now facing an existential challenge - an overused word but in this context appropriate - an existential challenge from the effects of climate change and ecological collapse.
The UN isn't perfect. Like all human institutions it could be more effective and many member states create real obstacles to improved effectiveness. But it is the only UN we have. It is the only institution that can bring the whole world together to focus on poverty and sustainable development, a rules-based order and conflict resolution. It is crucial to humanity's future and I wish to conclude by saluting you at the UNA -UK for keeping this precious flame alive until such time as the UK gets back to honouring and supporting the UN as it did for so many years in the past.
You can read Clare’s full speech here and see photographs of the event below.
