78 Years Engaging Global Citizens
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014 In these last remaining days of 2014, we reflect upon an eventful year for WFUNA, our member United Nations Associations and the greater global community. For WFUNA, it was a year of firsts. In March, we launched our Freedom from Violence project with six UNAs, who’ve spent the year advocating for the inclusion […]
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014
In these last remaining days of 2014, we reflect upon an eventful year for WFUNA, our member United Nations Associations and the greater global community.
For WFUNA, it was a year of firsts. In March, we launched our Freedom from Violence project with six UNAs, who’ve spent the year advocating for the inclusion of peaceful societies in the post-2015 development agenda. Over the summer, we hosted WIMUN, our first flagship international Model United Nations in Rome. We introduced the WFUNA Youth Delegate Multipliers Programme, welcomed new Friends of WFUNA board members, established exciting new partnerships and celebrated substantial growth in our social media presence. For more memorable moments of 2014, take a look at our staff picks in this photo gallery.
The year did not come without challenges, particularly for the UN and the global community. Conflicts in Syria, Gaza, Ukraine and South Sudan continue to debilitate regions and displace communities while the Ebola crisis plaguing West Africa instilled new fears worldwide. The same can be said about ISIL’s acts of terror, which WFUNA’s Executive Committee has issued a statement condemning.
Despite these mounting issues, this year’s events surrounding the UN’s post-2015 development agenda process has set the stage for what Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calls “an unprecedented opportunity to take far-reaching, long-overdue global action.” We were happy to see civil society, particularly our UNAs, participate in full force during the national consultations. We were also pleased to see peaceful societies–an element we believe is essential for sustainable development–included in the proposed Sustainable Development Goals.
We look forward to supporting civil society’s role throughout the formal intergovernmental negotiations as well as at critical events, such as the International Conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa, leading up to the unveiling of the new agenda in September.
We commend the outstanding and valuable work of our member UNAs, who continue to inspire us with their examples of raising awareness through effective government outreach, extensive media coverage and original global and national campaigns.
2015 will undoubtedly present new challenges as well as new opportunities. We are hopeful that we as global citizens will take this momentum and forge ahead towards greater collaboration, continued innovation and meaningful action.
I wish you all a festive holiday season and a prosperous New Year!
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