UNA NZ is hiring a new Executive Officer. In this role, you will run our national office. In one week, you may negotiate a partnership with a university faculty, support in drafting a press release, coordinate an event, work with government department other stakeholders on civil society engagement for UN visits or engagement, review publications, complete research and support in operational function and charity governance of our organisation. The role is varied and challenging. You must be able to work independently and collaboratively with people of diverse backgrounds, cultures and ages.

This is a paid, permanent part-time position. You can find the job description and application information on do good jobs by clicking here.

No bystanders – Women’s economic empowerment, peace and security issues panel event a success! 

UNA NZ was pleased to host a CSW66 side event titled "No bystanders – Women’s economic empowerment, peace and security issues"

As the world continues to grapple with the effects of climate change and COVID-19 it is imperative to ask an important, but simple question- what would the world look like if women had the same access to leadership, decision-making, and opportunities as men? The answer is clear- it would be a society which ensured that no one person is left behind. As women grapple with being the hardest hit group economically because of COVID-19 and women and children are also the most vulnerable groups susceptible to the effects of climate change- it is imperative they are included in the solution. This event highlighted the challenges that are still in place for women to be active participants at the public and corporate leadership levels; it also provided a unique perspective for the future of women’s leadership and participation to address these challenges in the future. Whilst there is still work that needs to be done, New Zealand’s youth have shown they are prepared to fight for a more equitable and sustainable future, not just in New Zealand, but in the wider Pacific region.

The event featured impressive panellists including Dr Negar Partow, Caroline Herewini MNZM, Professor Tagaloatele Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop CNZM, Dr Gill Greer CBE, MNZM, Associate Professor Fiona Te Momo, Tara Singh, Seraya Amirthalingam, Kate Hellings and Joy Dunsheath JP.

Organiser & MC: Joy Dunsheath

We are excited to share that a recording of the event is now available. 

Click here to view the recording
And enter passcode: =+xx5GPh



UNA NZ Executive Officer selected to be part of the government delegation to CSW66
 

We are pleased to share that Maisy Bentley (UNA NZ Executive Officer) and Vaiola Tauti have been selected as the non-governmental delegates to join the official NZ Government delegation to the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) from 14th-25th March 2022. 

CSW is held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York each year; it is recognised as the highest level international forum on gender equality and women's empowerment. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the New Zealand delegation will be attending CSW virtually. You can find more information on CSW 66 here.

• The priority theme for CSW66 is :‘Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes;

• The review theme is: Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work (agreed conclusions of the sixty-first session)

Maisy Bentley is in her final trimester of a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts (Māori Studies and International Development). She has a focus on using her legal and academic skills for social good, especially for women's equality. Maisy has experience in the NGO sector, academia and the law with numerous successes as a researcher, Board Member, and being Executive Officer for United Nations Association New Zealand (UNA NZ). Maisy has significant achievements under her belt both academically and in practice, including being named "Outstanding Youth Champion" by New Zealand's Minister for Youth, Thomson Reuters Top Student in Contract Law and Most Inspirational Young Person of the Year. 

Maisy is familiar with CSW, having participated as a civil society delegate in CSW63 and 65. When CSW65 moved online she saw this as an opportunity to uplift more voices of young women; as the Executive Officer for UNA NZ, she worked with them to send a delegation of seven young women to CSW. Maisy has stated that she's "really looking forward to continuing working with the women's NGO sector and representing them as part of the delegation." 

Maisy Bentley and Vaiola Tauti will provide the government delegation with high-level advice on the priority theme and provide input into the negotiation process. 


Watch CSW66 sessions live and recorded

The CSW is instrumental in promoting women's rights, documenting the reality of women's lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women.

The sixty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place from 14 to 25 March 2022 under the theme "Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes". Review theme: Women's economic empowerment in the changing world of work".  

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. A functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), it was established by Council resolution 11(II) of 21 June 1946.

There are many sessions held as part of CSW66 including general discussion, ministerial round tables and expert panels. You can view these sessions on UN WebTV by clicking here.

General Assembly resolution demands end to Russian offensive in Ukraine

The resolution demands that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.” It was sponsored by more than 90 countries and needed a two-thirds majority in the Assembly to pass.  Five countries - Belarus, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (more commonly known as North Korea) Eritrea, Russia and Syria - voted against it, while 35 abstained. The voting capped off a rare special emergency session of the General Assembly that began on Monday, during which countries took to the podium to declare their positions on the crisis, now entering a second week.

Read more here: https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1113152 

Ukraine invasion: Needs keep growing with cities facing ‘fatal shortages’; breakthrough as UN convoy reaches Sumy

“What happened in Lviv this morning, is nothing new, just as it was in other parts of the country, but it’s a strong reminder that this country is in war and the medical needs are increasing,” said Dr Jarno Habicht, representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Ukraine. Now in its fourth week, the war in Ukraine has seen 44 attacks on healthcare throughout the country, including on buildings and a warehouse, patients, staff and supply chains, resulting in 12 confirmed deaths, according to WHO data.

Read more here: https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1114232 

WFUNA statement on Ukraine

UNA NZ is proud to be a co-signatory to the World Federation of United Nations Association's statement on Ukraine.
"The World Federation of United Nations Associations expresses its grave concern over the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine which has led to a violation of its territorial integrity and political independence and marks a clear rejection of the steps outlined in Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter for resolving disputes peacefully."
Read the full statement here:
https://wfuna.org/posts/wfuna-issues-statement-ukraine

ICJ application regarding Russia 
A message from our special office Peace and Security on Ukraine's ICJ application.
On 26 February Ukraine filed an application instituting proceedings against the Russian Federation before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) under the Genocide Convention, to which both Ukraine and Russia are parties, and under which:
Disputes between the Contracting Parties relating to the interpretation, application or fulfilment of the present Convention, including those relating to the responsibility of a State for genocide or for any of the other acts enumerated in article III, shall be submitted to the International Court of Justice at the request of any of the parties to the dispute. (Article IX).
In its Application, Ukraine contends, inter alia, that:
“the Russian Federation has falsely claimed that acts of genocide have occurred in the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts of Ukraine, and on that basis recognized the so -called ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ and ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’, and then declared and implemented a ‘special military operation’ against Ukraine”.
Ukraine “emphatically denies” that such genocide has occurred and states that it submitted the Application “to establish that Russia has no lawful basis to take action in and against Ukraine for the purpose of preventing and punishing any purported genocide”.
You can read the press release from the ICJ announcing the action at this link: https://www.reuters.com/.../ukraine-lodges-case-against.../

The SGM will take place online at 5:30 pm on Thursday 31 March 2022.

To attend please complete our RSVP form by clicking here.
 

Heartfulness in collaboration with the High Commission of India, Wellington, United Nations Association of New Zealand - UNANZ and prestigious yoga institutions of the world
are offering 100-days of Yoga, FREE of charge starting from 14th March - 21st June 2022.
• Engage in a daily online practice adapted to your
needs.
• Learn from the finest yoga experts of our time.
FREE YOGA SESSIONS: yoga4unity.com/
Useful links: https://yoga4unity.thinkific.com/
https://heartfulness.org/en/

The Southeast Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence and The Asia Forum are hosting Associate Professor Shiro Armstrong for a webinar moderated by SEA CAPE Director Professor Siah Hwee Ang.

Click here to register

Read our annual publication online now. 

Earlier this year UNA NZ had planned a launch event for our annual publication with the generous support of the Irish Embassy in New Zealand. Due to Covid-19 restrictions this event is postponed indefinitely. For now, we are soft launching the electronic version of our annual publication so that citizens can still learn about and engage with the work of the UN. 

UNA News is our annual publication and includes the latest reports from our branches, national activities and events as well as updates from the wider UN family both in New Zealand and internationally.  The latest edition of the UNA NZ News includes a conference feature, internship reports and captures all our key events throughout 2020. It also includes research papers into climate-related threats to human rights in the pacific, the nuclear ban treaty, te ao Māori and the SDGs and more.

UNA NZ extends its thanks to all those involved in our activities during this period, our dedicated interns and experts who carried out research and our team of editors who complied, edited and formatted this publication. 

You can read the publication here.