UNA-USA Press Releases and Statements

For more information on any of our press releases, experts, or events, please contact:

Joseph Catapano
UNA-USA Communications
(202) 887-9040

Email: jcatapano@unausa.org

2012 Press Releases and Statements

UNA-USA’s 13th Annual Global Classrooms International Model UN Conference Commences at UN Headquarters
May 17 - 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. Read the full statement.

Media Advisory: Thousands of High School Students from Across the Globe Convene for 13th Annual International Model UN Conference
May 11 - Nearly 2,500 high school students from the around the world will attend the United Nations Association of the USA’s (UNA-USA) Global Classrooms® International Model UN Conference at UN Headquarters in New York City Thu., May 17 – Sat., May 19. Read the full statement.

Poll Shows Majority of American Voters Want a Strong U.S.- UN Relationship
May 3 - New bipartisan polling data released today by the United Nations Foundation and the Better World Campaign, demonstrates that the majority of American voters support a strong relationship between the United States and the United Nations. Read the full statement.

Hundreds of Students from DC Area Gather at State Department to Debate World Issues at Global Classrooms Model UN Conference
May 1 - More than 700 middle and high school students from the Washington, D.C. area are attending the United Nations Association of the USA’s (UNA-USA) Global Classrooms® Washington, D.C. Model UN Conference at the U.S. Department of State today. Read the full statement.

United Nations Foundation and United Nations Association of the USA to Honor Global UN Advocates 
April 25 - Today the UN Foundation and the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) announced the awardees for its 2012 Global Leadership Awards Dinner, scheduled for October of this year. Read the full statement.

Four Queens Journalism Prep Students Participate in Key Briefing by UN Secretary-General
April 19 - High school students from World Journalism Preparatory (WJP) will attend a briefing today with top United Nations officials today as they attend a briefing of the Security Council by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Read the full statement.

Hundreds of Students from 22 Houston Area Schools Tackle the World’s Toughest Challenges in 10th Annual Global Classrooms Model UN
April 5 - 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 the University of Houston. Read the full statement.

Nearly One Thousand Students from Tampa Bay Area Tackle the World’s Toughest Issues in 10th Annual Global Classrooms Model UN Conference
April 3 - Close to 1,000 students from area counties are attending the United Nations Association of the USA’s (UNA-USA) Global Classrooms® Tampa Bay Model UN Conference today at the University of South Florida.
Read the full statement.

Middle School Students from Across the Globe Convene in New York for 7th Annual International Middle School Model UN Conference
March 22 - Close to 1,500 middle school students from the around the world are filing 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.
Read the full statement.

UNA-USA Executive Director Patrick Madden Announces Launch of UNA Women
March 8 - United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) Executive Director Patrick Madden is announcing the launch of the association’s first Affinity Group, UNA Women, today at the Tower Club in Dallas.
Read the full statement.

United Nations Association of the USA Chapters Across the Country Honor Womens’ Contributions to the World
March 8 - Hundreds will gather this week at United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) events across the country honoring women’s political, economic, and social contributions to the world on the occasion of International Women’s Day. More than 40 UNA-USA Chapters from coast to coast will host film screenings, lectures, dinners, and other events to commemorate the day.
Read the full statement.

Students from L.A. Unified School District and Surrounding Schools Participate in UNA-USA's Global Classrooms Model UN Conference
March 3 - More than 300 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.
Read the full statement.

UNA-USA Teams Up with the Ron Clark Academy to Host Simulation of the United Nations
March 3 - Hundreds of area middle school students are attending the 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.
Read the full statement.

30 Schools and Hundreds of Miami’s Dedicated Students Participate in  Model United Nations Conference
February 18 - Six hundred 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 North. Students role-play as representatives from countries, interest groups and nongovernmental organizations in simulations of UN bodies.
Read the full statement.

Hundreds from Across the Country to Join United Nations Association of the USA for 2012 Members’ Day at the UN
February 10 - More than 850 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. Attendees are participating in a day of dynamic and informative discussion in one of the grandest settings, UN General Assembly Hall.
Read the full statement.

Hundreds of New York City’s Most Dedicated Students Participate in Model United Nations Conference
February 4 - Nearly 1,000 students from New York City are attending the United Nations Association of the USA’s (UNA-USA) Global Classrooms® New York City Model UN Conference today at the City College of New York (CCNY).
Read the full statement.

Investing in Renewable Energy is Good for the United States and the World
January 25 - In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama highlighted the importance of increased investment in renewable energy and greater energy efficiency. Prioritizing sustainable energy will position the United States and its partners for a stronger economic future, and will help advance global sustainable energy goals.
Read the full statement.

Better World Campaign Executive Director Peter Yeo's Statement on the Progress of UN Management Reform
January 20 - Better World Campaign Executive Director Peter Yeo released the following statement on the next steps in the Administration’s agenda for reforming the United Nations outlined in a speech today by U.S. Representative to the United Nations for UN Management and Reform Joseph M. Torsella.
Read the full statement.

2011 Press Releases and Statements

Americans Join United Nations Association of the USA in Supporting Advancement of Human Rights
December 10 - Citizens from around the United States today join their friends and neighbors to honor the 63rd Human Rights Day with local chapters of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA).
Read the full statement.

Students from All Parts of the World Take On Climate Change at London Model United Nations Conference
December 9 - High school students from around the world convene today at the headquarters of the United Nations International Maritime Organization in London to tackle climate change in the simulated diplomatic setting that is the United Nations Association of the USA’s (UNA-USA) Global Classrooms® Model UN program. The conference is the biggest yet for Global Classrooms London, with more than 400 delegates participating, including delegations from more than 30 London state schools, as well as Bahrain, Cyprus, India, Japan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates.
Read the full statement.

UNA-USA Honors Human Rights Activists
November 9 - The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) Leo Nevas Human Rights Task Force awarded Dr. Asma Jahangir with the 2011 Leo Nevas Human Rights Award.  Jahangir, former UN Special Rapporteur and prominent human rights lawyer, spoke to a large audience today about the challenges she faced as an international monitor on human rights and as an activist promoting domestic reforms and rule of law in Pakistan. The award is the highest honor of the Leo Nevas Human Rights Program, an initiative of UNA-USA that promotes human rights as an essential component of U.S. policy at the United Nations.
Read the full statement.

United Nations Foundation and United Nations Association of the United States of America Salute 21st Century UN Advocates at Annual Global Leadership Awards Dinner
November 8 - In today’s world, leaders from all walks of life are turning to the United Nations to solve some of the toughest challenges.  Tonight at the annual Global Leadership Awards Dinner in New York, United Nations Foundation Founder and Chairman Ted Turner, UN Foundation President Timothy E. Wirth, and Executive Director of the UN Association of the United States of America Patrick Madden saluted leaders from diverse backgrounds – from the entertainment industry, to the corporate sector, and government – for their innovative work with the UN to develop fresh solutions for today’s global problems.
Read the full statement.

UNA-USA Members Support the United Nations as Global Population Reaches 7 Billion
October 31 - As the world marks the birth of the 7 billionth child this month, the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) and its more than 100 chapters around the country are using the historic moment to foster important dialogues about global growth and the vital roles the UN plays in local communities.
Read the full statement.

United Nations Association of the USA Chapters Commemorate UN Day
October 24 - Thousands will gather this week at United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) events across the country honoring the 66th Anniversary of the ratification of the UN Charter. More than 80 UNA-USA chapters in 34 states will host over 125 events. The UN is in everyone’s interest, and this year’s UNA-USA chapter events are built around that theme.
Read the full statement.

Poll Shows More than Eight out of Ten American Voters Support U.S. Engagement at the United Nations
October 17 - New bipartisan public opinion research released last week by the United Nations Foundation and the Better World Campaign, shows that there is strong support for the United Nations. The majority of Americans said they oppose the proposed legislation in Congress that would cut United States’ funding to the United Nations by 50%, and end funding to UN agencies that respond and take action after a natural disaster or humanitarian crisis, such as UNICEF and the World Health Organization.
Read the full statement.

UN Foundation President Timothy E. Wirth Condemns Passage of Anti-UN Legislation in House Foreign Affairs Committee
October 13 - In response to the passage of anti-UN legislation, H.R. 2829, in the House Foreign Affairs Committee today, UN Foundation President Timothy E. Wirth issued the following statement.
Read the full statement.

UNA-USA Premieres Documentary Featuring NYC Students Ready to Change the World
October 5 - Students from John Adams High School are no stranger to conflict or big problems.  But when they spent two days at the United Nations to tackle world conflict and global problems, it changed their lives forever. Decorum, a documentary produced by the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), tells the story of how Dean/Teacher Michael Budhu used UNA-USA’s Global Classrooms ® Model UN program to challenge, empower, and inspire these students.
Read the full statement.

Inspiring UNA-USA Message about the Power of Education Airs on Toshiba Vision Screen
September 29 - As global leaders and diplomats from around the world gathered in New York last week for the UN General Assembly, visitors passing through one of the city’s busiest intersections saw UNA-USA’s new Global Classrooms® Model UN Public Service Announcement on the Toshiba Vision Screen.
Read the full statement.

UNA-USA Announces New Issue Of “A Global Agenda"
September 1 - The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) is proud to announce the publication of A Global Agenda: Issues Before the United Nations 2011-2012. This year’s issue is packed with even more content while maintaining its reputation as a comprehensive and easy to understand book about issues facing the UN. Over 37 essays by veteran diplomats, current and former UN officials, technical experts, academicians, and journalists are included in the publication.
Read the full statement.

UNA-USA 2011 Annual Meeting: A Strong American Voice for the UN
June 13 – The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) convenes in Washington this week to as further proof of American support for the UN and how to best engage the American people in the UN’s robust agenda.  UNA-USA members from across the country will come together to share their collective voices on Capitol Hill to raise awareness of the United Nations and the critical role it plays in advancing American national security and foreign policy goals. This week’s meetings are the first UNA-USA Annual Meeting since joining the United Nations Foundation family.
Read the full statement.

Leo Nevas Human Rights Award Announced
June 6 - Author, journalist and human rights advocate Kati Marton was today awarded the 2011 Leo Nevas Human Rights Award at a luncheon of the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) in New York City. Read the full statement.

Poll Shows Overwhelming Voter Support for the United Nations
May 24 - 85% of voters say it is important the U.S. maintain an active role in the UN, and the majority of Americans maintain a favorable perception of the UN. Read the full statement.

Patrick Madden Joins United Nations Association of the USA as Executive Director
March 2 - The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), a program of the United Nations Foundation, today announced that Patrick Madden will join the organization as Executive Director. In this role, he will lead UNA-USA's nationwide membership, educational, and human rights programs and the growing movement of Americans who support the important work of the UN.
Read the full statement.

Statement of the Leo Nevis Human Rights Task Force on the Human Rights Situation in Libya
March 2  – The Leo Nevas Human Rights Task Force of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) commends the recent actions taken by the United Nations Human Rights Council, the UN Security Council, and the UN General Assembly to condemn and punish violations of human rights against the Libyan people by the Libyan government. Read the full statement.

Press Release Archive

2010

2009

2008