News
The Latest from UNA-NCA
January 6, 2021
A giant of international relations and universal peace has left us
By Ok Pannenborg, UNA-NCA Advisory CouncilLast Saturday one of the most consequential leaders of the world's international system in the 20th century passed away at the venerable age of 101. Brian Urquhart arguably was the most accomplished global peace arrangement implementor the world had in the second half of the 20th century and may well join the historical pantheon of the great and the good, next to presidents, economic and social leaders and thinkers, world religious leaders and philosophers and kings.
January 5, 2021
The Board of Directors and staff of the UN Association of the National Capital Area wish to express our deepest condolences to Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-8) for the recent loss of his beloved son at age 25 to depression.
December 23, 2020
As 2020 draws to a close, we reflect with gratitude on the many lessons learned and are hopeful for what lies ahead.
December 21, 2020
Curious what GCDC has done to transition Model UN programs online in 2020? Check out major highlights below!
December 17, 2020
On the evening of Thursday, December 10th, 2020, the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNA-NCA) hosted its first virtual Human Rights Awards program, an event put forth annually to commemorate the anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In honor of the 72nd anniversary of the adoption of this milestone document, UNA-NCA recognized individuals and organizations working to improve human rights in the DC community and around the world.
December 1, 2020
From November 16th to 19th, GCDC held its annual Fall Model UN Training Conference in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Global Classrooms DC, the flagship education program of the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNA-NCA), has been partnering with PAHO, the Latin American branch of the World Health Organization, for 17 years. Each fall, we host a Training Conference to introduce several hundred students to Model United Nations, where they adopt a nation and debate pressing global issues with other delegates.
November 24, 2020
In 2008, DC was declared the first human rights city in the United States. A human rights city is defined as one whose residents and local authorities, through learning about the relevance of human rights to their daily lives, join in ongoing learning, discussions, systematic analysis, and critical thinking at the community level, to pursue a creative exchange of ideas and the joint planning of actions to realize their economic, social, and cultural as well as civil and political human rights.
November 17, 2020
Human Rights Commitment Started Early
By A. Edward Elmendorf, Past President UNA-NCAIn a wide-ranging conversation, UNA-NCA’s 2020 ‘Tex’ Harris Award recipients for human rights progress through diplomacy, Erin Barclay and Scott Busby of the U.S. Department of State, said that their development as human rights advocates began during their high school and college years. Both were trained as lawyers but it was evident that their human rights interests, experiences, and concerns extend well beyond a traditional concern with rights as formulated in law. Our conversation showed that Barclay and Busby represent the best of what people in this country can do in public service under political leaders of widely varying views and administrations.
November 17, 2020
Dean Claudio Grossman’s leadership has advanced human rights, rule of law, and legal education with creativity and distinction. His work has influenced both individuals and huge swaths of populations – both through 21 years at the Washington College of Law of American University and in key human rights roles within the Inter-American and United Nations systems. He is Dean Emeritus at the Washington College of Law where he serves as the Raymond I. Geraldson Scholar for International and Humanitarian Law.
November 17, 2020
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.
