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 ReadingThe economic crash caused by coronavirus has pushed indebted countries even deeper into debt crisis. The call to cancel debts for the most vulnerable countries is gathering speed and LASER has signed the petition for this to happen. We can also sign it as individuals here: jubileedebt.org.uk/actions/stop-coronavirus-debt-disaster. The impacts of the pandemic could spell enormous […]
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 […]
Continue ReadingThe following is a report from the LASER Spring Council meeting at which our speaker event focussed on the issue of migration. The Region was very fortunate to have two distinguished speakers for this event, Myrian Cherti and Marley Morris. Myrian Cherti is a National Officer at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Marley […]
Continue ReadingThe news is awash with stories about US President Trump’s visit to the UK, with most outlets focussing this morning on his comments on Brexit, supposed broadsides against the Prime Minister and the “Trump baby” blimp that has been floating across London in protest at his visit. But we at UNA-UK believe the spotlight should […]
Continue ReadingBy Maya Evans I have just arrived in Hiroshima with a group of Japanese “Okinawa to Hiroshima peace walkers” who had spent nearly two months walking Japanese roads protesting U.S. militarism. While we were walking, an Afghan peace march that had set off in May was enduring 700km of Afghan roadsides, poorly shod, from Helmand […]
Continue ReadingThis is the statement issued by UNA LASER about the recent bombing in Syria carried out the the UK, US and France in response to allegations of chemical weapons use by Assad’s Forces.
Continue ReadingThe following letter was sent by Bruce Kent to the Tablet Journal on the recent bombing carried out by the UK, France and the US of Syrian chemical weapons installations
Continue ReadingBy David Wardrop On Tuesday 1st May 2018 United Nations APPG held a high-level parliamentary meeting on the Humanitarian Situation in Yemen which is truly dire and shameful to us all.
Continue ReadingCOMMONWEALTH SUMMIT DECISIONS, LONDON, APRIL 2018: DR CARL WRIGHT (UNA)
Continue ReadingUNA London and South-East Region held a meeting in the House of Lords to examine this crucial question.
Continue ReadingThe following is an essay written by Maya Evans from Kabul which focussed on what Afghan women think about voting. This essay first appeared in the Voices for Creative Non-Violence Newsletter.
Continue ReadingA poll has been conducted to examine what the British public think about the Arab world. The poll was conducted by Arab News, YouGov and the Council for Arab and British Understanding (CAABU). The results of this poll have highlighted the extent to which the British public misunderstand the Arab world and the crisis in […]
Continue ReadingIn 2014 I travelled to Rwanda to conduct research in the field. My topic of interest was the lives of those born from rape during the Rwandan genocide of ‘94. Many people ask how it is I came to focus on this particular group of people and to be honest I don’t think I ever […]
Continue ReadingLast Thursday, the International Day of Peace, I attended a talk hosted by LSE Centre for Women Peace and Security. The topic of discussion for the evening was UN Peace Operations: Politics, Human Rights and Leadership.
Continue ReadingThe opening of the United Nations General Assembly has historically been a chance for world leaders to trade platitudes about peace. But this year’s edition of the U.N. jamboree may have actually increased the risks of the North Korean crisis erupting into a major conflict.
Continue ReadingThe United Nations Association’s aim is to advocate for strong government support of the UN and to demonstrate why the UN matters to people everywhere. Overseas issues are obviously of great concern but we must not forget issues at home. How can we have any hope of convincing decision makers of our strong beliefs in […]
Continue ReadingIn work for global justice and peace, not surprisingly, there are highs and lows. My earliest ‘high’ comes in the form of a League of Nations colour poster issued just before the 1932 Geneva disarmament conference. It shows lots of children marching hopefully towards peace. The League of Nations Union in those days was a […]
Continue ReadingThe following report, written by Sarah Webster, is from an event at the UNA LASER Summer Council which discussed UK foreign aid, priorities and practice.
Continue ReadingEthiopian lawyer, Blen received assistance with funding her time in the UK from UNA LASER and has written this report for us on the activities that she has undertaken during her time here.
Continue ReadingDavid Wardrop (UNA Westminster) wrote the following report on a launch event, hosted by UNA Westminster, of a book on Angola’s role on the Security Council.
Continue ReadingThe following report was written by Sally Spear, Chair of the WAC-UNA from a presentation given by a panel of speakers at their conference. The subject of their presentation was AFRICA – THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN BUILDING A PEACEFUL AND SECURE LIFE FOR ALL – STRATEGIES AND SUCCESSES
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