We the People, We the Arts: Briefing Session at NCA Rawalpindi

On May 13, the UNIC team visited the National College of Arts (NCA), Rawalpindi, to brief students on the We the People, We the Arts Competition. This unique competition promotes the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by engaging young visual artists in creating artwork that highlights the theme of zero hunger.

Vittorio Cammarota, Director UNIC, spoke to the students about the Sustainable Development Goals and specifically SDG 2:  Zero hunger. Stefanie Burri, the Director of Cooperation in Pakistan for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), spoke about the SDC’s work in Pakistan and the links between Swiss and Pakistani culture. Students also watched special messages on hunger in Pakistan by Patrick T. Evans, FAO Representative in Pakistan, and Lola Castro, WFP Representative and Country Director. Continue reading →

Media Briefing on the Climate Change Agreement Signing Ceremony

To mark the first day that the Paris Agreement on Climate Change will be open for signing and to celebrate International Mother Earth Day, the Secretary-General invited world leaders and high-level officials to attend a special signing ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York.

The historic Paris Agreement, reached after years of negotiations, provides a pathway for countries to reduce emissions so that global temperature rise will be limited to well below 2 degrees Celsius. Continue reading →

International Day of Sports for Peace & Development

UNIC Islamabad, the Higher Education Commission, the Pakistan Olympic Association and NUST joined hands to celebrate the International Day of Sports for Peace & Development on 6 April at the NUST gymnasium.

The ceremony was part of a series of events held across different cities of Pakistan aiming at empowering Pakistani youth through education and sports and at promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to healthy lifestyles, peace, tolerance and partnership. Continue reading →

Picturing freedom: Winners of children’s poster competition held by UN Human Rights Office

Eiza Abid, 15-year-old from Pakistan has been declared winner of the 12-18 age group, while Alexandria Slaven, 11, from Samoa is the winner of the 5 to 11 age group.

“My painting personifies the darkness and confinement within a person’s life and once the person is set free from the pressures and judgement of others, one can freely express their thoughts and imagination in their true colors, illustrating their unique vision and bright outlook,” Eiza Abid

Alexandria and Eiza’s designs, which will be made into posters for use during the campaign, were selected from the winners of local UN competitions organized in seven countries.

View all the winning entries:
http://2covenants.ohchr.org/News-Events_Detail-8.html

Debate on Women, Media and Development #IWD2016

The UN Information Centre and the British High Commission in Pakistan paid tribute the outstanding female journalists working in Pakistan at a debate mark International Women’s Day. The event featured women journalists with different backgrounds talking about their jobs, their commitment and the specific challenges and dangers they face in the course of their work, especially while reporting on development issues. The event was attended by high profile guests including representatives from media, diplomatic community, government and academia and development sector.

For more pics : Click here

Workshop Marks World Radio Day

In order to celebrate World Radio Day, UNIC Islamabad organized a workshop for the employees and students of Radio Pakistan and the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC).  The aim was to expose the participants to the work of the UN, especially the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to discuss the importance of radio as a means of communication.

Vittorio Cammarota, Director UNIC Islamabad, introduced the event and asserted the importance of radio in Pakistan, and highlighted that the UN System has been using radio for communication in Pakistan since 1946 and has co-produced over 50 programmes with Radio Pakistan. Continue reading →

SDGs

10 Things you need to know about the Sustainable Development Goals

1. The Global Goals need you
It’s not only up to governments to take action, it’s up to all of us – and that includes you. It starts with little things that can make a big impact, and the more people know about the Global Goals for sustainable development, the more successful they will be. So let everybody know about the Global Goals, what they are and why they matter. For more ways in which you can get involved visit http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment

2. The Global Goals will change the way the world does business
For too long, economic growth has been all about profit. The Global Goals want to transform the world economy so it works without violating workers rights and harming the environment. Continue reading →

Human Rights Day Poster competition

Poster Competition

The Celebrating Freedom poster competition aims to give school-aged children an opportunity to create a poster that will be used for the Two Covenants Campaign. The poster competition will reflect the theme of Freedom.

The competition is opened to school-age children in two categories; primary school, ages 5-11, and secondary school , ages 12-18.

A poster from each category will be selected for use for the Two Covenants Campaign. The competition is open to all schools, including vocational training institutions and any special schools.

All entries should be sent at [email protected] with the subject title “Poster Competition Submission.” The final deadline for submissions is 24th January 2016.

Prize: Winning posters will be printed and disseminated as part of the “Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always” campaign. All Phase 1 winners will be included in an online art gallery showcasing the work and entries of the competition.

For further information : Click here