Don’t Look Away! The War is Still on Our Doorstep
In an age of continually changing headlines, it’s easy for even the most heart-breaking stories to fade from our attention. The war in Ukraine is one such story. It has […]
Continue ReadingAuthor: Trisha Rogers
Reverse the Current Increase in Wars
The recently published 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI) paints a stark and sobering picture of our world. Far from moving towards greater harmony, the report reveals a fundamental reshaping of the global order, […]
Continue ReadingIsrael-Iran Conflict De-escalation Resolution, LASER Summer Council 21/6/25
The following resolution was agreed at the LASER Summer Council on 21st June 2025 UNA London & South East Region: Concerned that the Israel-Iran conflict has escalated since the pre-emptive […]
Continue ReadingShape the Future of Aid, May 2025
In 2024, international aid fell for the first time in six years and will likely fall further once the implications of the recent UK and US foreign aid cuts are […]
Continue ReadingCOP29: Achievements and Next Steps
World leaders recently gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan for COP29 (the 29th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, UN FCCC). Scientists had just noted that […]
Continue ReadingWhat do we want from the upcoming UN General Assembly?
Every September, world leaders gather at the UN Headquarters in New York City to begin a new session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The biggest event on the annual […]
Continue ReadingWhat we want to see from the next UK Government
A general election has been called in the United Kingdom, taking place on July 4. This election takes place against the backdrop of significant political divide in the country. Important […]
Continue ReadingUK National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security: One Year On
In the lead up to the 25th anniversary of landmark UN Security Council Resolution 1325(UNSCR 1325), the UK launched its fifth National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2023-2027 (NAP […]
Continue ReadingClimate Action after COP28
2023 was marred by severe climate events – including erratic rainfall patterns, persistent drought, and record-breaking summer temperatures – as well as environmental damage thought to be the result of […]
Continue ReadingUDHR75 speech on UN Green, Westminster
The following speech was given by UNA Westminster Chair, David Wardrop, on UN Green, Westminster, on 10th December 2023. On 10 January 1946, exactly where we are standing now, large […]
Continue ReadingLetter to MPs on the Israel/Palestine conflict
The situation in Israel/Palestine is terrible and fast getting worse. Many of those trying to help – including at least 11 staff members of UNWRA (the UN agency doing humanitarian […]
Continue ReadingUpdates on UNA LASER 2023 Campaigns
This year, UNA London and Southeast Region (UNA LASER) has campaigned on: the political turmoil in Peru human rights in the Holy Land changes in UK aid harming the world’s […]
Continue ReadingThe Countdown to COP28 – What Should the UK Government Keep in Mind?
This year is forecast to be among the hottest on record worldwide. Countries like Spain have experienced record-breaking weather over Easter; the UK has experienced its hottest June on record; […]
Continue ReadingStop UK’s Overseas Aid Shrinking and Breaking Promises to the World’s Neediest People
The United Kingdom’s aid budget is set to be slashed for the third time in three years, with development organisations bracing for a £1.7 billion cut to be made in […]
Continue ReadingWhat took the aid so long? The UN Must Accelerate its Crisis Response
UNA LASER Campaign Alert: April 2023 What took the aid so long? The UN Must Accelerate its Crisis Response A recent investigation by the BBC uncovered some harrowing information regarding […]
Continue ReadingNew UN High Seas Treaty: a Triumph for Multilateralism
Under the UN Convention on the Law Of the Seas (UNCLOS), and for decades, the High Seas have been considered international waters, and therefore noone’s waters. They have been over-exploited, […]
Continue ReadingHuman Rights in the Holy Land
Background Human rights and dignity for all – the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 2023 is the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which has led […]
Continue ReadingThe Political Turmoil in Peru
While the majority of what we read on the news focuses on conflicts closer to our doorstep, we should not turn our backs on the ongoing political crisis unfolding in […]
Continue ReadingWe Must Not Turn Our Backs on Somalia
We Must Not Turn Our Backs on Somalia Famine has, once again, come to Somalia, a country on the Horn of Africa which has had its fair share […]
Continue ReadingPriorities for the Next United Nations Human Rights Chief
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has announced that she will not be seeking a second term in office after her current one expires at the end […]
Continue ReadingSexual Misconduct in the UN
Chair of UNA Westminster, David Wardrop, has given the following response to the BBC programme The Whistle-blowers: Inside the UN The BBC programme The Whistle-blowers: Inside the UN’ will have shocked […]
Continue ReadingThe UK must protect human lives as the Nationality and Borders Act comes into force
In July 2021, The Nationality and Borders Bill was introduced to Parliament. It contained provisions about nationality, asylum, immigration, victims of slavery and human trafficking. The UK government stated that […]
Continue ReadingThe UK Must Urgently Cease Supplying Arms to Saudi Arabia
Since 2004, The Houthi movement has been leading an insurgency against the military in Yemen. In 2014, tensions between Houthis and government forces escalated into outright civil war. Protests around […]
Continue ReadingUNA LASER Special Campaign Alert: The Russian Invasion of Ukraine
On February 24th Russian troops invaded Ukraine. This has left a significant trail of destruction and a growing humanitarian crisis. At the time of writing, more than 1 million Ukrainians […]
Continue ReadingUse the UN Security Council to deescalate the Ukraine situation
LASER member and former BBC UN correspondent Keith Hindell encouraged us to send the letter below. Do write to your MPs to the same effect! Dear Foreign Secretary I am […]
Continue ReadingThe UK Must Take Forward its Climate Change Commitments Following COP26
The UK’s work is far from over as president of COP. There are still fundamental challenges that must be addressed this year: as members and supporters of UNA LASER, we […]
Continue ReadingCOP 26: Final Summary and Action
COP 26 – Summary and Action Summary This summary is mostly from Gareth Redmond-King of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, whose Director, Peter Chalkley, is a keynote speaker at […]
Continue ReadingCOP 26: Updates and Actions on 12th November
Update from COP 26 on 12th November The latest COP26 draft political text, published early on Friday 12th, is significantly more balanced than the previous one, with stronger elements on […]
Continue ReadingCOP 26 Update and Action on 10th November
Update from COP 26 on 10/11 Cover text: The first draft of the cover text (the political umbrella text coming out of the summit) was published overnight. The text includes: Commitment […]
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