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26 April 2019, New York, USA - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office hosted the Graduation Ceremony for the first class of its inaugural UNITAR Global Diplomacy Initiative (GDI), a programme dedicated to providing a unique, intimate training experience to students in higher education while utilizing the connections and experience of UN delegates and academics.
In hopes of ensuring a brighter future through diplomacy, the newly-designed UNITAR Global Diplomacy Initiative allowed students to experience international relations and contemporary politics alongside those actively engaged in these fields — the diplomats themselves. Designed for students enrolled in Political Science, International Relations, or similar academic programs, the programme included access to UNITAR’s Core Diplomatic Training toolkit, weekly three-hour seminars with renowned professors, as well as the opportunity to synthesize diplomatic methodology and current affairs into an academic paper under their guidance. The Spring 2019 GDI curriculum included courses on Globalization and Multilateral Diplomacy, Regional Organizations and Conflict Resolution, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), International Justice, UN Security Council Reform, UN and Democracy, and Women, Peace and Security, all taught by experts in their respective fields.
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Mr. Marco A. Suazo, the Head of Office of UNITAR New York, gave the opening remarks and congratulated the students for their commitment and success during the Spring 2019 Global Diplomacy Initiative. He emphasized the importance of the youth accessing and learning more about the United Nations and multilateral diplomacy. Then, the distinguished professors, H.E. Mr. Yuriy Sergeyev, Former Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, Dr. David O’Connor, Permanent Observer of IUCN to the United Nations, Ms. Jelena Pia-Comella, Former Deputy Permanent Representative of Andorra to the United Nations, Dr. Angel Angelov, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Bulgaria to the United Nations, Dr. Massimo Tommasoli, Permanent Observer for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) to the United Nations and H.E. Mr. Narinder Kakar, the Permanent Observer of University for Peace to the United Nations, delivered their own remarks about the course and commented on the dedication and hard-work of the students during the seminars.
The students expressed their gratitude to UNITAR for providing them with this opportunity to access the United Nations and study under distinguished experts in the field of diplomacy. Following the remarks, the professors handed over the certificates to the students and they all took a group picture together. The ceremony then broke off for participants and faculty of the programme to mingle during a brief reception.
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