THE 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations will be marked in Leamington this weekend.
The Warwick District branch of the UN Association will commemorate the founding of the UN by celebrating its past and looking ahead to the challenges it faces in the future.
Speaker in Dr Catherine Jones – who was in New York at the UN last month as part of her research work on the organisation – will address the local association on her work, at the Baptist Church in Chandos Street on Saturday (October 24), from noon.
Association chair Gian Clare said: “It is also an opportunity to spotlight where the UN – and the international community as a whole – needs to redouble its efforts to meet current and future challenges across the three pillars of its work – peace and security, international development and human rights.
“During the past six weeks the world leaders had assembled at the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate the UN`s 70th birthday.
“But beyond the balloons, the bunting and the Ban Ki-moon speeches, there was plenty of soul-searching about the future of the organisation.
“Its centrepiece, the Security Council, appears increasingly incapable of delivering security; its peacekeepers can’t always keep the peace; its health body has been shown up by the Ebola epidemic; while its refugee agency is struggling to deal with record numbers of people fleeing conflict or persecution.
“It would be unfair though not to cite examples of the UN’s remarkable achievements over the past 70 year – the defeat of smallpox and guinea worm; the millions of lives saved by vaccinations, refugee workers and food aid; the vast improvement in maternal and neonatal health; and the brave attempt to do something about climate, ozone, oceans and forests before it is too late.”
Leamington mayor Amanda Stevens will make a presentation of a specially printed copy of the UN Charter at Saturday’s meeting.
All are welcome and a ploughman’s lunch and coffee will be served. Entry, including lunch is £3.50.
An exhibition marking the UN’s 70th birthday can also be seen at Leamington library until Sunday (October 25).
