News

This year’s Perdita Huston awardee, Professor Susan Deller Ross, has an exceptional record in advancing the rights of women and girls domestically and internationally. In a uniquely fascinating and exciting conversation with her, I was able to learn more about the evolution of women’s rights and how much of a significant role Professor Ross played in creating real change for so many women worldwide.

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This October, the United Nations celebrated its 75th anniversary. Over the past year, the United Nations, United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), and the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNA-NCA) have both celebrated and examined the first 75 years of the organization in order to better understand what the next 75 years should look like. One major part of this were the global consultations hosted by private citizens, civil society, and other groups, which UNA-NCA took great part in. As the grand finale of this monumental year, UNA-NCA hosted a series of events to further celebrate and examine the future of the UN. These included more casual, intimate gatherings such as our annual Eleanor Roosevelt Happy Hour and a virtual edition of our Young Professional Career Series featuring Careers in the United Nations. UNA-NCA also hosted two high profile events including our special October 15th “UN75 Coffee Chat: The Future We Want” featuring Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8).

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UNA-NCA’s Emerging Leaders program aims to provide youth leaders with the tools and support they need to develop their advocacy skills. As an Emerging Leader, students of all ages, including middle and high school, as well as undergraduates, will have the opportunity to connect with mentors, gain professional development skills, get published on UNA-NCA Snapshots, and advance their knowledge of sustainable development and the UN agenda. Candidates will come out having a demonstrated passion for human rights and social justice.

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International Data Sharing and Artificial Intelligence Cooperation in Global Public Health Emergencies

Report produced by the UNA-NCA Peace and Security Committee
Events presented on: Wednesdays, August 19, September 2, and September 16, 2020

The United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNA-NCA) along with its Peace and Security Committee hosted a series of panel discussions, entitled “International Data Sharing and Artificial Intelligence Cooperation in Global Public Health Emergencies: A Virtual Roundtable.” The events took place virtually and welcomed panelists and participants from all around the world, including the Kingdom of Spain, France, Malta, the People's Republic of China and New Zealand. All three panels were moderated by Mr. Patrick Realiza, Co-Chair of the UNA-NCA Peace & Security Committee The program provided a platform for discussion among global health experts, government officials, data scientists, researchers, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning practitioners and privacy advocates. The panelists all shared their perspectives on pressing issues related to Big Data and AI in the COVID era, including transnational data collaboration and data privacy.

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We Must Keep Up her Fight!

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a hero in every sense of the word. Her recent loss is devastating to us all.

Justice Ginsburg led a truly remarkable life. Appointed by President Clinton in 1993, she became the second woman ever to be sworn in as a justice for the country’s highest court.

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By A. Edward Elmendorf, UNA-NCA Past President

Arms control experts and diplomats, experts on the United Nations, and United Nations Association friends and colleagues mourn the passing of Jim Leonard, a bright star in the UN world for many years. His star was a shooting one, lasting a full 100 years.

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“You in the United Nations are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. I am asking you to help me get justice.” 
-Philonise Floyd

Our nation has been at protest for far beyond the nearly 100 days that have passed since George Floyd's murder; for generations, our neighbors, community members, friends, and loved ones have struggled for justice, support, and their inherent right to life.

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While the immediate crises of health and human services, and the devastating effect of COVID-19, must be at the top of the global agenda, it is time now to think ahead, to contemplate further crises that might unexpectedly befall the world community and what can we do now. To this end we have prepared a draft speech for a Head of State of a UN Member State, in the traditional but now “virtual” General Debate of the UN General Assembly beginning on September 22, 2020.

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Despite the transition of most schools to online learning, the Global Classrooms DC program is prepared for a virtual school year.

The GCDC team has been hard at work for the past couple of months creating a global education curriculum that is packed with new topics and updated activities. We have also added distance learning options into each activity to make sure students have the necessary tools to become proficient Model UN delegates. Additionally, for the third year in a row, we are partnering with the International Organization for Migration and International Labour Organization to make sure our educators and students have access to the most up-to-date expertise and resources.

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By Henry Webster-Mellon, UNA-NCA Program Assistant

On Tuesday, July 7, UNA-NCA and New Story Leadership (NSL), a non-profit committed to bridging the cultural and political divide between Israeli and Palestinian young leaders, convened a panel of four young Palestinian and Israeli leaders as well as over 80 guests to consider the status of Israeli-Palestinian conflict and explore what role of the United Nations should play in the peacebuilding process.

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