United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)

UNITAR New York office

Mandate

The UNITAR New York Office was opened in October 1996, in accordance with various resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and with a decision of the Institute's Board of Trustees. The key mandate of the Office is to organize training for delegates of Member States. The Office is also called upon to strengthen UNITAR's cooperation with the United Nations Secretariat, programmes and funds, as well as with academia, foundations and the private sector in the Americas. Read more

Briefings for New Delegates on the Work of the Sixty-Fifth Session of the General Assembly - 15-17 September 2010

The main objective of the general briefing is to enable representatives to familiarize themselves with the work and procedures of the General Assembly.Participants will be reviewing the procedures, the agenda and the documentation of the General Assembly. They will also be provided with practical information on the various services available to delegations. The special briefings, which are complementary to the general briefing for new delegates on the work of the General Assembly, is to enable representatives to familiarize themselves with the work and procedures of three of the Main Committees of the General Assembly.

For more information and registration, please click here.

Smarter partnerships in a complex world: the potential of MDG 8

UNITAR, Egypt and the OECD are hosting a side event at the UN High Level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on the MDGs

1.15pm-2.30pm Session 2. The audience decides: how do we make partnerships smarter?Everyone agrees that partnerships are essential, but what really works? In this TV-style debate, panellists will put forward concrete recommendations to the General Assembly in a manifesto for MDG 8. The audience will decide what it should contain.

10am-12.45pm Session 1. Partnerships that work – what do we know?
The potential of MDG 8 is still largely unexploited. An initial discussion will highlight partnerships that have helped to achieve the MDGs, drawing lessons for the future. Innovative partnerships offer additional scope for accelerating MDG achievement over the next five years; a second discussion will look at some examples.

Conference Room 5, North Lawn Building, UN Headquarters

The event will be held in English.

Please note that participation is limited – only register if you are sure you will attend. To register, please visit http://www.unitar.org/ny/event_registration. Registration closes on Tuesday, 14 September 2010

In Focus

UNITAR aims to promote the advancement of women in the Untied Nations system through an advanced- level, skills-building workshop

Historically, the role of women in diplomacy has remained marginal, at best, evidenced by the low-though increasing-rates of women’s participation in senior level positions in the UN system. Among diplomats to the UN, currently, women account for 23 of the 192 permanent representatives and observers to United Nations headquarters in New York. Women’s participation at senior level positions in the UN system also remains dismal. As of 2009, women represent only 27 of the 120 UN officials at the ASG level and above, at the UN Secretariat; and 15 of 43 senior level officials of funds and programs. Read More

Migration and Climate Change

Even though the movement of people as a response to changes in the environment is not a new phenomenon, this issue has risen on the international agenda as a result of the growing awareness of the reality of climate change and its possible implications. Climate change is predicted to increase climate variability and lead to greater intensity and frequency of extreme weather events.

Intellectual Property in Today’s Global Challenges

In today’s increasingly knowledge-based society, ideas have become a key factor in capital generation and development. Their critical value has given rise to the concept of intellectual property, referred to as “creations of mind”, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, and names and designs used in commerce. With intellectual property issues coming to the fore in international negotiations dealing with climate change, food security and other global challenges, understanding their basic principles has become a prerequisite for all levels of diplomats.

Training and capacity building on Participatory Budgeting and Revenue

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research UNITAR/PHPO in Nigeria is collaborating with federal, states, local authorities and other stakeholders to provide assistance in Governance and Socio-Economic Development in the Niger Delta Region. Since March 2006, the Institute has been conducting series of training and capacity building programmes to strengthen the states, and local government systems in their quest to achieve the MDGs.

International law explained: UNITAR’s multipartner collaboration in New York

At UN Headquarters in New York, UNITAR trains diplomats in a broad variety of International Law courses, including international trade law, intellectual property law, law of the sea, treaty law and human rights law.