10 February 2021, New York, USA (Virtual) – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research New York Office (NYO) successfully concluded the two-day virtual seminar entitled “Induction Course for the Members of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission. The ambassadorial-level session of the Induction Course for the Members of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission 2021was attended by over 80 participants and provided the opportunity to discuss priorities.

H.E. Mr. Marco Suazo, UNITAR NYO Head of Office, opened the session by thanking all participants for their attendance and additionally spoke about the goals of the Commission, especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Nikhil Seth, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNITAR, followed Mr. Suazo with introductory remarks on the importance of the Commission, including his own experience in it.

9 February 2021, New York, USA -
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research New York Office (UNITAR NYO) and the Peacebuilding Commission Office (PBC) hosted the first day of the Induction Course for the Members of The United Nations Peacebuilding Commission on 9 February 2021. It took place in an online format, attracting over 75 delegates.

3 December 2020, New York, United States (Virtual) – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office, along with the Columbia Law School, hosted the “amplification strategies for diplomatic leadership” workshop on Thursday, 3 December 2020. The workshop was the third endowment of the training series presented by the two entities, and 233 participants joined the session virtually from different parts of the world and was supported with funding allocated from the Swedish International Development Agency’s (SIDA) contribution to the UNITAR Strategic Framework Fund, under the programme ‘Leveling The Playing Field’ which focuses on the development of skills and knowledge of Least Developing Countries.

23 October 2020, Bonn, Germany - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is now the 24th and newest member of the UN family in Bonn. UNITAR, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, opens its third out-posted office in the UN City in Germany, following the offices in the United States (New York) and Japan (Hiroshima). The Institute has several project offices and affiliated training centres around the world.

14 October 2020, Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nation’s Operational Programme for Satellite Analysis and Applied Research (UNOSAT) remotely joined the training on Information Management led by UNITAR Division for Peace. This training was delivered for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in September 2020 in Chad.

17 September 2020, Geneva, Switzerland - The COVID-19 outbreak that began in late 2019 evolved rapidly and globally. The pandemic, and subsequent policy and security measures taken in response, impacted the administration of justice in every legal system around the globe. One of the greatest impacts is that lockdown measures and social distancing have rendered in-person hearings challenging or impossible. The disruption to conducting hearings and other judicial proceedings has the potential to significantly undermine access to justice, due process, and civil and human rights.

September 2020, Geneva, Switzerland - Last August, the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI) signed a partnership agreement with the Division for Peace of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to review and enhance the curriculum WPDI uses to train their Youth Peacemakers to become leaders and trainers. Building on the wide expertise and experience of UNITAR in providing innovative learning solutions to individuals, organizations, and institutions to support global and local action for lasting peace and sustainable development, this collaboration will increase the capacity of WPDI Peacemakers to disseminate knowledge and skills in vulnerable and conflict-affected communities, notably in South Sudan, South Africa, and Uganda.

7 August, Geneva, Switzerland - The Division for Peace of UNITAR is pleased to announce a new collaboration with the Paris School of Advanced International and Political Studies (Hautes Études Internationales et Politiques – HEIP Paris). The newly signed Memorandum of Understanding outlines the scope of future collaboration that will include the establishment of a Master's degree and a research centre in various thematic areas such as conflict prevention, peace development and the rule of law, in Paris and North Africa.

Kossiwa J. Tossoukpe is the founder of KESecurix - Diversity in Security, and a former police officer in Zurich, Switzerland. At age 21, she was the youngest in her police academy class, and the first Black woman to join the force. Kossiwa studied at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York and the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland, where she obtained a Master's degree in International Relations and Global Security. She was also a Trainee at UNITAR's Division for Peace, supporting the pre-deployment training team. Kossiwa's consultancy firm focuses on enhancing and including the voices of female security consultants, and especially those of colour.

Collegium Civitas has become the first Polish university to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Division for Peace. The MoU outlines the scope of prospective collaboration that includes: training and degree programmes in various thematic fields such as sustainable development, international security and the rule of law.