UNA-NI - Trustees’ Report
The United Nations Association Northern Ireland registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland as Charity Number: NIC 103663 in October 2015. Since registration, UNA-NI has continued to convene regular meetings of the Trustees and has planned and delivered several events in support of its aims and stated public benefit.
UNA-NI was established for the promotion of a safer, fairer and more sustainable world through a strong, credible and effective United Nations.
We believe that UNA-NI meets the public benefit requirement by:
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connecting people within Northern Ireland to the work and values of the UN;
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informing people locally of the UN goals internationally;
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explaining how the UN works and what it can realistically achieve;
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offering opportunities for debate on how to make the UN more effective.
In other words, we aim to bring the United Nations more closely to the people of Northern Ireland through information-sharing, awareness-raising and debate. We believe that this is of public benefit. The direct benefits which flow from the work of UNA-NI are through its annual programme of events, details of which are outlined below. All of these events were provided free of charge.
One World Festival Event in Derry-Londonderry – 17/10/23
UNA-NI was delighted when the Principal of Oakgrove Integrated College agreed to host an event which was held during the 2023 One World Festival Northern Ireland. UNA-NI is a member of CADA, the Coalition of Aid and Development Agencies Northern Ireland and each year since 2019, CADA has organised a weeklong festival to highlight particular themes. This year’s theme focussed on how climate change impacts on people around the world.
UNA-NI invited Emer Rafferty to be the guest speaker at the Derry event. Hosted by the Principal, staff and students of Oakgrove Integrated College, the Principal and students from Lisneal College and a representative of St Cecilia’s College were welcomed to the event.
Emer is a second-year chemical engineering student at Queen’s University Belfast. She is also the youngest director of EcoJustice Ireland and was selected by the Education Authority to attend the One Young World Festival which was held in Belfast in early October. Her presentation was based on her experiences at that festival, including the workshops and discussions by a wide range of speakers. She encouraged the students to act locally, no matter how modestly they may feel their contribution to reducing climate action may seem. Reference was made to the importance of using music, poetry and art in order to raise awareness of the climate and ecological crisis.
A group photograph which included students from Oakgrove Integrated College, UNA-NI members from second left, Carol Conlin, Patricia Irvine, Ruth Taillon and John Harkin, along with guest speaker Emer Rafferty and representatives of CADA, Maria McLaughlin and Seamus O'Gorman. (Photograph credit: Jim McCafferty)
Students from Oakgrove Integrated College and Lisneal College with their respective Principals, Mr John Harkin and Mr Michael Allen, were featured with guest speaker Emer Rafferty. (Photograph credit: Jim McCafferty)
Conference in Armagh on UN Day – 24/10/23
Having established links in Armagh, UNA-NI welcomed the opportunity to mark UN Day at a conference, titled Primacy of Peace: Promoting Understanding and Dialogue through the collections of the Primates of All-Ireland, Archbishop Robin Eames (1986 – 2006) and Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich (1977 - 1990). The UN logo and quotation were used as a backdrop for part of the conference in the Market Place Theatre, Armagh.
Joint Conference with UU’s Transitional Justice Institute – 22/02/24
UNA-NI was pleased to work with the Transitional Justice Institute in Ulster University. Hosted by Professor Siobhan Wills, the Institute’s Director, guest Speakers were Professor William A Schabas and Dr Stephen Farry.
From left, UNA-NI Committee members Patricia Irvine and Ruth Taillon, Professor Shabas, Professor Wills, Dr Farry and UNA-NI Chairperson, Carol Conlin. (Photograph credit: Kevin Cooper, Photoline plc)
Almost 40 people attended the lunchtime talks in Ulster University and a donation for UNICEF was collected at the event, raising £110.00.
UNA-NI Chairperson, Carol Conlin, gave the vote of thanks to both guest speakers and to Professor Wills for the TJI's willingness to work with UNA-NI. (Photograph credit: Kevin Cooper, Photoline plc)
Launch of an exhibition in Armagh Robinson Library to highlight the UN International Year of Camelids – 06/03/24
To mark the 2024 United Nations International Year of Camelids, Armagh Robinson Library has launched a temporary exhibition on the subject of camelids. Featured at the launch were Library Education and Outreach Officer, Ursula Monaghan; Library Administrative Officer, Lorraine Grattan; United Nations Association Northern Ireland (UNA-NI) Committee Member, Maureen Maguire; Library Archivist, Thirza Mulder; UNA-NI Committee Member, Ruth Taillon; Library Keeper, the Very Revd Shane Forster; Accreditation Mentor, Ken Abraham; former Museum Mentor, Noreen Cunningham; Assistant Keeper, Carol Conlin and UNA-NI Committee Member, Judith Fawcett. The exhibition will run until 30 June 2024.
(Photograph Credit: Ian Maginess)
Committee Meetings
The Committee has met online on five occasions and once in person to carry out the business for UNA-NI.