United Nations Association London and South-East Region
Supporting the United Nations – Promoting UN Values
25th November, 2020 We have been proud that the UK meets the target set by the UN in 1970 for spending 0.7% GNI on Overseas Development Assistance. This is now under threat. Please urgently write to the Prime Minister (privateoffice@no10.x.gsi.gov.uk) and the Chancellor of the Exchequer (rishi.sunak.mp@parliament.uk, public.enquiries@hmtreasury.gov.uk) to urge them not to cut this […]
Continue ReadingFrom LASER Chair, Patricia Rogers, on 20/11/20 Following the merger of DfID with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (creating the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO), the select committee that scrutinised the work of that department will soon cease to exist. However, it is very important that UK ODA (overseas development assistance, aka aid) expenditure […]
Continue ReadingHundreds of people from all over the world joined us from 18th-24th October to agree actions for building a more secure world. Peace Child International joined us in creating nightly workshops on: Peace Security; Food Security; Environmental Security; Economic Security; Peace and Security; Digital Security. Details of these can be found on the festival website. […]
Continue ReadingThe International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear (ICAN) weapons is encouraging us to forward the following letter to our MPs this week (Hiroshima was 6th August; Nagasaki 9th August). We are urging the UK government to support the new UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Place de Cornavin […]
Continue ReadingYemen: Two million under Fives are malnourished[1] UNICEF says “360,00 children will Die”[2] UN Agencies are facing a major funding crisis after donors, including the UK, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have cut their pledges by 50%. The UN’s humanitarian chief, Mark Lowcock, said unless more money was raised Yemen “will face a horrific outcome […]
Continue Readingprivate.office@fco.gov.uk Dear Foreign Secretary I am writing to you on behalf of the United Nations Association London and South East Region out of extreme concern for the humanitarian situation in Yemen. In 2017, 16m were in need humanitarian assistance, now there are 24m – 80% of the population. 10 million children do not have access […]
Continue ReadingTo the Prime Minister 2nd July, 2020 Dear Prime Minister I am writing on behalf of the London and South East Region of the United Nations Association (UNA LASER), as we think the proposed merger of the Department for International Development with the Foreign Office would be a grave mistake. It will be interpreted all […]
Continue ReadingThe BBC news report on the “worst humanitarian crisis since the Second World war” alerted us to the urgency of the need for the World Food Programme (WFP) to be able to address the impending famine “of biblical proportions”, caused by the pandemic as well as by unprecedented locust infestations, in at least 10 countries. […]
Continue ReadingLASER was appalled at President Trump’s decision to cut funding for WHO at this crucial time of international cooperation in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Working with Sir Richard Jolly (former Deputy Director of UNICEF), UNA LASER Chair Trisha Rogers sent the following letter to Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Secretary of State for International Development. Members of […]
Continue ReadingOn 23rd March 2020, UN Secretary General António Guterres said, “The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war. That is why, today, I am calling for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world. It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our […]
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