Guest speakers include the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis, and UN Foundation President & CEO Kathy Calvin

 

NEW YORK -- Nearly 2,500 high school students from 23 countries around the world are taking the seats used by actual UN delegations in UN General Assembly Hall for today’s Opening Ceremonies of the United Nations Association of the USA’s (UNA-USA) Global Classrooms® International Model UN Conference. The Opening Ceremony includes addresses from the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi; Alternate Representative of the U.S. for Special Political Affairs in the UN, Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis; as well as United Nations Foundation President & CEO Kathy Calvin.

NEW YORK -- Brooke Loughrin was a dedicated and diligent student at Boston College in Fall 2012 when she received a call that would change her life for the next year and beyond. “YO!”, a new and spirited documentary short produced by the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), tells the story of Brooke’s selection to be the first-ever U.S. Youth Observer at the United Nations, and demonstrates how youth voices are actively involved in the UN’s work. The film will premiere today during the Opening Ceremonies of UNA-USA’s Global Classrooms International Model UN Conference in UN General Assembly Hall.

WASHINGTON -- More than 600 middle and high school students from the Washington, D.C. area are taking part in Model United Nations activities during the United Nations Association of the USA’s (UNA-USA) Global Classrooms® Washington, D.C. Model UN Conference. The conference, hosted and organized by the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNA-NCA), is taking place at the U.S. Department of State; the conference is the largest annual gathering at the department.

CHICAGO — More than 400 middle and high school students from more than 20 Chicago Public Schools are attending the United Nations Association of the USA's (UNA-USA) Global Classrooms® Chicago Model UN Conference at the Chicago History Museum today. The event features a keynote address from Dr. Joan Prince, Alternate Representative of the United States to the 67^th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, and Chicago Board of Education Vice President Jesse Ruiz. Discussion topics for students include: access to education; sustainable development; migration in Latin America and the Caribbean; and the situation in North Korea.  

WASHINGTON -- The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) and the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Organization Affairs (IO) are launching a global Model UN simulation on climate change. The simulation is part of an exciting new collaboration designed to provide U.S. embassies across the globe small-scale, classroom-ready Model UN materials for use in youth outreach activities. The simulation materials are made available in English, Spanish, French, and Arabic.

NEW YORK  -- Today, nearly 1,600 middle school students from the around the world file into General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters for the United Nations Association of the USA's (UNA-USA) Global Classrooms® International Middle School Model UN Conference in New York City today through Saturday. This conference is the only international Model UN conference designed specifically for students in grades 5-8, and is the largest middle school Model UN in the world.

HOUSTON -- Hundreds of students from the Houston Independent School District (HISD) are attending the United Nations Association of the USA's (UNA-USA) Global Classrooms® Houston Model UN Conference today at Lanier Middle School. In Model UN, students role-play as representatives from countries, interest groups, and nongovernmental organizations in simulations of UN bodies. Global Classrooms Model UN has amazed schools around the globe with its ability to cultivate global literacy, life skills, and attitudes necessary for global citizenship.

BOSTON - More than 250 middle and high school students from 15 schools in the Boston area are attending the United Nations Association of the USA's Global Classrooms® Boston Model UN Conference today at Northeastern University. In Model UN, students role-play as representatives from countries, interest groups and nongovernmental organizations in simulations of UN bodies.  Global Classrooms Model UN has amazed schools around the globe with its ability to cultivate global literacy, life skills, and attitudes necessary for active citizenship, showing that students deeply care about the world outside their local community.

TAMPA BAY -- More than 500 middle and high school students from the Tampa area are attending the United Nations Association of the USA’s Global Classrooms® Tampa Bay Model UN Conference today at the University of South Florida. In Model UN, students role-play as representatives from countries, interest groups and nongovernmental organizations in simulations of UN bodies.  Global Classrooms Model UN has amazed schools around the globe with its ability to cultivate global literacy, life skills, and attitudes necessary for active citizenship, showing that students deeply care about the world outside their local communities.

WASHINGTON - The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) announced its partnership with Seton Hall University to give advanced undergraduate and graduate students the chance to engross themselves in the political dynamics of the United Nations. Since 2001, the United Nations Intensive Summer Program has familiarized students with the inner-workings of the UN by bringing them together with distinguished practitioners working in the field of multilateral diplomacy.

United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) Executive Director Patrick Madden is in Hawaii’s capital today speaking to leading thinkers in foreign policy and Hawaii elected officials about the UN and its vital work around the world.

HILO, HI – The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) is re-launching its Hawaii Island Chapter today, at the Chapter’s Annual Meeting. UNA-USA Executive Director Patrick Madden is speaking at the re-launch, joining supporters of the UN from across the State of Hawaii for a day of Chapter building, learning, and networking.

ATLANTA – Hundreds of Atlanta area middle school students are attending the second annual United Nations Association of the USA’s Global Classrooms® Ron Clark Academy Model UN Conference today at the Georgia Tech Research Institute Conference Center. In Model UN, students role-play as representatives from countries, interest groups, and nongovernmental organizations in simulations of UN bodies.  Global Classrooms Model UN has amazed schools around the globe with its ability to cultivate global literacy, life skills, and attitudes necessary for active citizenship, showing that students deeply care about the world outside their local community.

LOS ANGELES – More than 360 middle and high school students from the Los Angeles community are attending the United Nations Association of the USA’s Global Classrooms® Los Angeles Model UN Conference today at UCLA. In Model UN, Students role-play as representatives from countries, interest groups and nongovernmental organizations in simulations of UN bodies. Global Classrooms Model UN has amazed schools around the globe with its ability to cultivate global literacy, life skills, and attitudes necessary for active citizenship, showing that students deeply care about the world outside their local community.

MIAMI – More than 700 middle and high school students from 30 schools in the Miami Dade area are attending the United Nations Association of the USA’s Global Classrooms® Miami Model UN Conference today at Miami Dade College. The conference will involve 31 schools in the Miami Dade County Public School District, as well as dozens of volunteers from area colleges.  

NEW YORK – Nearly 600 United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) members and guests are attending UNA-USA Members’ Day at the UN today in New York City. Members' Day participants are UNA-USA members, community leaders, business executives, academics and students, as well as representatives from think tanks and like-minded organizations. Today’s conference represents the largest gathering of UN advocates in the U.S. on a single day, and marks the launch of UNA-USA’s 70^th Anniversary celebration.

WASHINGTON – The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) and its network of more than 120 Chapters across the United States are celebrating Human Rights Day today with events in more than 40 communities. Presentations, film screenings, and educational sessions are just some of the many activities being hosted.

Following the United States reelection to the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Leo Nevas Human Rights Task Force issued the following statement:

WASHINGTON – The United Nations Association of the USA’s Executive Director Patrick Madden has been reelected to serve on the Executive Committee of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA); the announcement came during WFUNA’s 40^th Plenary Assembly in Rio de Janeiro.

WASHINGTON –Following yesterday’s announcement that the United States has won a second term to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC)--elected with the most votes of any nation within the Western European and Others Group (WEOG)—Patrick Madden, Executive Director of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), issued the following statement: