United Nations Association of Australia

The United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA) is the official non-profit, non-government, membership-based, organisation in Australia working on behalf of the United Nations core body to promote its overall aims and ideals, and equally seeking to build support for the UN's programs, activities, and agencies. The UNAA official mission is "to inform, inspire and engage all Australians regarding the work, goals and values of the UN to create a safer, fairer and more sustainable world". It has division offices in every State and Territory of Australia, with the national office run out of Canberra.

United Nations Association of Australia

UNAA Offices
Abbreviation	UNAA
Formation	1946
Type	NGO
Legal status	Association
Headquarters	Canberra
Location	Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin, Adelaide
Region served	Australia
Official language	English
Patron	David Hurley
National president	Mario D'Elia
Website	www.unaa.org.au

History

The UNAA was established in 1946 and in the following decades, the association and its state divisions grew and expanded their programs. In 1979 the Victorian division established the annual Media Peace Awards, followed by the establishment of the World Environment Day Awards.^[1]

During the International Year of the Tree (1982), the UNAA and the Nursery Industry Association of Australia founded an environmental organisation, Greening Australia, to protect, restore, and conserve Australia's native vegetation.^[2]

Description and governance

The UNAA works closely with United Nations specialised agencies and departments such as the UNDPI, UNIC, and UNHCR, and has consultative status with ECOSOC as a member of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA).^[3] The organisation also works closely with the Australian Government, especially the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) and Australian parliamentarians.

The UNAA is governed by a National Board which meets quarterly. The National Board elects a representative Executive Team, including National Executive Director, currently^[when?] Lachlan Hunter, to take responsibility for the ongoing work nationally. Its national president is Mario D'Elia, who succeeded Major General (Ret'd) Michael G. Smith AO in 2019, who in turn succeeded Australian Senator Russell Trood in 2016, who in turn had succeeded Australian Politician Robert Hill in 2012.

What it does

The UNAA also works to support various initiatives of the United Nations which focus on key international affairs topics such as (but not exclusive to):

• Climate change
• Gender equality
• Reconciliation with Australia's Indigenous peoples
• Refugees
• Sustainable development goals

The UNAA hosts over 150 events a year across Australia; hosts public awards ceremonies on a variety of social, media, and environmental topics; drives celebratory UN observance day activities; operates development projects overseas and generally acts as a key link between the UN and the Australian public.^[4]

The UNAA group includes a national academic network, a federal parliamentary group, divisions in every state and territory, a Young Professionals network, a Youth network, and a national office.

Awards

Media Peace Awards

The UNAA Media Peace Awards, established in 1979, were awarded on UN Day (24 October), to recognise Australian journalists and media organisations "who had excelled in their promotion of human rights and issues".^[5] Justice Kirby referred to the award as the Australian Media Peace Prize in his address at the 1981 presentation of the prize.^[6] These Awards, later known as the UNAA Media Awards,^[7] or simply UN Day Media Awards, are no longer being presented,^[5] with the last being the 2018 awards, presented in 2019 by SBS journalist Sarah Abo.^{[8][9][10][11][12][13]}

In 1980, future Prime Minister Bob Hawke won the award.^[14]

In 1983, the film Women of the Sun won the award.^[15][16]

Film producer Darren Dale has won the award twice.^[17]

A 2015 finalist was an IQ2 debate at The Ethics Centre, for "its role in stimulating public awareness and understanding". The debate achieved prominence in the media owing to an address by journalist Stan Grant on "racism and the Australian Dream".^[18][19]

UN Day Honour

The UN Day Honour award was established by UNAA (NSW) as part of their United Nations Day (24 October) celebrations, the day that the UN Charter came into force in 1945. The award recognises "individuals or organisations in Australia that have made a significant contribution to the aims and objectives of the UN, for example in promoting peace, respect for human rights, equal opportunities, social justice and environmental sustainability".^[20] Recipients include:

• 2017: Australian Red Cross^[20]
• 2018: Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG^[20]
• 2019: Reconciliation Australia^[20]
• 2020: Sam Mostyn^[20][21][22]

Model United Nations

The UNAA’s Victorian division hosts student Model United Nations (MUN) Conferences in high schools and universities around the state. These day-long conferences aim to increase student awareness of the United Nations, its processes, values, and the complex issues brought before the UN and the international community, while developing a sense of civic responsibility as future global citizens.^[23]

UNAA Young Professionals Network

The UNAA Young Professionals (UNAA YP) network involves and inspires young professionals throughout Australia in international affairs and the work of the United Nations around the world, through fund-raising, awareness-raising, and advocacy campaigns.^{[citation needed]}

United Nations Youth Australia (UNYA)

United Nations Youth Australia (UNYA) is a youth led organisation, born out of the organisation in the 1970s. Its members are aged below 25 years.^[24] UN Youth Australia is not a division of, or run by, the UNAA.

References

1. "About us". UNAA Victoria. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
2. . Archived from the original on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
3. WFUNA EcoSoc and UNDPI affiliation March 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
4. United Nations Days, Weeks, Years Calendar February 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
5. "Media Awards". UNAA Victoria. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
6. Michael Kirby (1981). "The Australian Media Peace Prize 1981" (PDF). Retrieved 6 April 2022.
7. United Nations Association of Australia (2019). Annual Report 2018/19 (PDF) (Report). p. 18. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
8. United Nations Association of Australia (2020). Annual Report 2019/20 (PDF) (Report). p. 22. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
9. . Archived from the original on 24 December 2018.
10. "United Nations Association of Australia: Media awards 2017". TV Tonight. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
11. Healey, Briana (11 July 2016). "The 2016 United Nations Media Peace Awards are open for entries". Influencing News. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
12. "United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Awards 2013". Mumbrella. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
13. "UNAA Media Peace Awards 2015 [flyer]" (PDF). Retrieved 15 February 2020.
14. University of South Australia Library, RH248/FW1
15. Zuk, T. (15 April 2002). "Australian Television: Women of the Sun". Australian Television Information Archive. AustralianTelevision.net. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
16. "Women of the Sun". Ronin Films. 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
17. "About: Staff: Darren Dale: Managing Director /Producer". Blackfella Films. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
18. Davey, Melissa (24 January 2016). "Stan Grant's speech on racism and the Australian dream goes viral". the Guardian. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
19. "Stan Grant: Racism and the Australian dream". The Ethics Centre. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
20. "Media Release". Landcare Australia. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
21. United Nations Association of Australia (2021). Annual Report 2020/2021 (PDF) (Report). p. 19.
22. "Sam Mostyn". Q+A. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
23. UNAA Victoria Model UN Program
24. [1] Archived (Date missing) at unyouth.org.au (Error: unknown archive URL)

External links

• Official website