United Nations Association of Australia
Encyclopedia
The United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA) is a non-profit, non-government, membership-based, community organization working to promote the aims and ideals of the United Nations
, and seek support for the UN, its programs and agencies. It has divisions within all of the States and Territories of Australia, with the national office run out of Canberra. Its national president is former Australian Senator Robert Hill
, who served as Australia’s permanent representative
to the United Nations from 2006 to 2009.
The UNAA works closely with United Nations Agencies and departments such as the UNDPI
, and has consultative status with ECOSOC
as a member of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA)
. It is governed by a Federal Council which meets annually to determines policy. Federal Council elects a representative Executive Committee to take responsibility for the ongoing work nationally. The Association works to support various initiatives of the United Nations which focus on key areas such as (but not exclusive to):
The UNAA hosts educational events (including Model United Nations
conferences), makes submissions to government and parliament, hosts awards nights on a variety of social and environmental topics, participates in UN Day and Year activities, and generally acts as a link between the UN and the Australian public.
in the formation of the United Nations, and his subsequent election to President of the United Nations General Assembly
in 1948, resulted in a large increase in interest and membership in the UNAA.
In following decades, the Association and its state divisions grew and expanded their programs. In 1979 the Victorian division established the annual Media Peace Awards, followed by the establishment of the World Environment Day Awards. During the International Year of the Tree (1982), the UNAA and the Nursery Industry Association of Australia founded an environmental organisation; Greening Australia
, to protect, restore and conserve Australia's native vegetation.
in support of the UN Environmental Program World Environment Day, recognizing innovative and outstanding environmental initiatives and leaders from around Australia. Awards recognize (amongst other criteria); green building innovations, community and government efforts, sustainable water management, and environmental entrepreneurism.
, otherwise known as the United Nations Queensland Community Award, seeks to honour Queensland individuals or groups who have made a significant contribution to advance peace, human rights, social justice and equality.
, whose members comprise of persons aged below 25 years. The UNYA is similarly divided into national and state divisions. Although affiliated, the degree of coordination or independence between the UNAA its youth affiliate varies between state divisions, with many UNYA activities undertaken completely independent of the UNAA.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, and seek support for the UN, its programs and agencies. It has divisions within all of the States and Territories of Australia, with the national office run out of Canberra. Its national president is former Australian Senator Robert Hill
Robert Hill (Australian politician)
Robert Murray Hill is Chancellor of the University of Adelaide and a former Australian politician. He also currently heads the Australian Carbon Trust.-Early life and family:...
, who served as Australia’s permanent representative
Permanent Representative
A Permanent Representative is the head of a diplomatic mission to one of various international organisations. The best known of the organisations to which states send Permanent Representatives is the United Nations; of these, the most high-profile ones are those assigned to headquarters in New...
to the United Nations from 2006 to 2009.
The UNAA works closely with United Nations Agencies and departments such as the UNDPI
United Nations Department of Public Information
The United Nations Department of Public Information helps non-governmental organizations gain access to and disseminate information about United Nations issues so the public can better understand the aims and objectives of the organizations...
, and has consultative status with ECOSOC
United Nations Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...
as a member of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA)
World Federation of United Nations Associations
The World Federation of United Nations Associations was created in 1946, inspired by the opening words of the United Nations Charter "We the Peoples". Today it is a global network of people linked together through United Nations Associations in over 100 member states of the United Nations...
. It is governed by a Federal Council which meets annually to determines policy. Federal Council elects a representative Executive Committee to take responsibility for the ongoing work nationally. The Association works to support various initiatives of the United Nations which focus on key areas such as (but not exclusive to):
- Asylum seekers
- Conflict resolutionConflict resolutionConflict resolution is conceptualized as the methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of some social conflict. Often, committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest...
- Environmental protectionEnvironmental protectionEnvironmental protection is a practice of protecting the environment, on individual, organizational or governmental level, for the benefit of the natural environment and humans. Due to the pressures of population and our technology the biophysical environment is being degraded, sometimes permanently...
- Gender equalityGender equalityGender equality is the goal of the equality of the genders, stemming from a belief in the injustice of myriad forms of gender inequality.- Concept :...
- Global governanceGlobal governanceGlobal governance or world governance is the political interaction of transnational actors aimed at solving problems that affect more than one state or region when there is no power of enforcing compliance. The modern question of world governance exists in the context of globalization...
- Human rightsHuman rightsHuman rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
- Peace educationPeace educationPeace education may be defined as the process of acquiring the values, the knowledge and developing the attitudes, skills, and behaviors to live in harmony with oneself, with others, and with the natural environment....
- Sustainable developmentSustainable developmentSustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
- United Nations Global Compact
The UNAA hosts educational events (including Model United Nations
Model United Nations
Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda....
conferences), makes submissions to government and parliament, hosts awards nights on a variety of social and environmental topics, participates in UN Day and Year activities, and generally acts as a link between the UN and the Australian public.
History
The UNAA was established in 1945, having previously operated under the title of the ‘League of Nations Union’. The close involvement by prominent Australian Dr H V Evatt QCH. V. Evatt
Herbert Vere Evatt, QC KStJ , was an Australian jurist, politician and writer. He was President of the United Nations General Assembly in 1948–49 and helped draft the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights...
in the formation of the United Nations, and his subsequent election to President of the United Nations General Assembly
President of the United Nations General Assembly
The President of the United Nations General Assembly is a position voted for by representatives in the United Nations General Assembly on a yearly basis.- Election :...
in 1948, resulted in a large increase in interest and membership in the UNAA.
In following decades, the Association and its state divisions grew and expanded their programs. In 1979 the Victorian division established the annual Media Peace Awards, followed by the establishment of the World Environment Day Awards. During the International Year of the Tree (1982), the UNAA and the Nursery Industry Association of Australia founded an environmental organisation; Greening Australia
Greening Australia
Greening Australia is an Australian environmental organisation, founded in 1982, the International Year of the Tree, to protect, restore and conserve Australia's native vegetation...
, to protect, restore and conserve Australia's native vegetation.
Model United Nations
The UNAA’s Victorian division hosts student Model United Nations (MUN) Conferences in high schools and universities around the state. These day-long conferences aim to increase student awareness of the United Nations, its processes, values, and the complex issues brought before the UN and the international community, while developing a sense of civic responsibility as future global citizens.Awards
The UNAA presents multiple awards throughout the year in conjunction with their promotion of United Nations initiatives and specific areas of interest and experience. These awards are presented to individuals and organisations, and usually coincide with a United Nation’s Day of a similar topic.World Environment Day Award
The UNAA presents the World Environment Day AwardsWorld Environment Day Awards
The World Environment Day Awards are presented annually by the United Nations Association of Australia in support of the United Nations Environment Programme’s World Environment Day...
in support of the UN Environmental Program World Environment Day, recognizing innovative and outstanding environmental initiatives and leaders from around Australia. Awards recognize (amongst other criteria); green building innovations, community and government efforts, sustainable water management, and environmental entrepreneurism.
Media Peace Awards
The UNAA Media Peace Awards were established in 1979, and recognise those in the media whose work highlights and champions humanitarian and social justice issues.International Peace Awards
The UNAA presents the International Peace Award to an outstanding individual in recognition of their efforts to promote peace and resolve conflict. It is awarded intermittently alongside the media peace awards.Founder's Award
The Founders Award, introduced for the first time in 2000, seeks to honour those Australian individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to peace, conflict resolution, human rights and social justice issues throughout their career.United Nations Queensland Community Award
The United Nations Association of Australia (Queensland) Community AwardUnited Nations Association of Australia (Queensland) Community Award
The United Nations Association of Australia Community Award is awarded annually by the United Nations Association of Australia in Queensland All residents of Queensland are eligible for nomination for the award, and more than one award may be presented in any year...
, otherwise known as the United Nations Queensland Community Award, seeks to honour Queensland individuals or groups who have made a significant contribution to advance peace, human rights, social justice and equality.
United Nations Youth Association of Australia (UNYA)
The UNAA has a youth based membership affiliate; the United Nations Youth Association of Australia (UNYA)United Nations Youth Association of Australia
UN Youth Australia is one of Australia's largest youth organisations, and is part of the global network of United Nations Youth Associations. UN Youth is an independent arm of the United Nations Association of Australia...
, whose members comprise of persons aged below 25 years. The UNYA is similarly divided into national and state divisions. Although affiliated, the degree of coordination or independence between the UNAA its youth affiliate varies between state divisions, with many UNYA activities undertaken completely independent of the UNAA.