On 26 June 1945, at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization, the Charter of the United Nations was signed in San Francisco. It came into force on October 24 of that year. As the foundational document of the post-World War international legal order, the Charter sets out the high purposes of the United Nations:  the maintenance of international peace and security, promoting social progress and better standards of life for all, strengthening international law, and promoting human rights. 

In this 75th anniversary of the UN and its Charter, a great many commemorative activities will take place on or around June 26 this year. The civil society UN2020 Campaign has prepared the following calendar of Charter Day events.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

United Nations Commemorative Event

The UN Charter: Past, Present and Future

Organized by the Office of the President of the General Assembly, this official program for the 75th anniversary Charter Day commemoration takes place online from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon EST on June 26. 

The program for the commemoration will include: 

  • An introductory video and statements from representatives of the main organs of the UN;
  • Panel discussions about the Charter’s relevance today and in the future (including CIVICUS, Secretary General Lysa John, who will discuss the role of civil society, historically and in the years ahead);

– A closing musical performance featuring the New York Philharmonic and the San Francisco Symphony, representing two cities central to the history of the UN Charter.

More information about the event, including Member States statements, can be found here. 

The commemoration will be live-streamed globally through the following links: 

UN Web TV website: http://webtv.un.org (available in 6 languages)

UN Channel on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/gTMAaSNvRm0 (available in English)

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/UNWebTV/posts/3417559538256239 
(available in English)

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/UNWebTV/status/1274023914608504833 (available in English)

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

United Together: A conversation with Deputy Secretary-General 

Amina Mohammed

This online event organized by UNA–USA begins at 1:00 pm on June 26. DSG Mohammed will discuss the importance of community leadership to help make the world better and achieve the purposes of the United Nations and its Charter. Questions for DSG Mohammed can be submitted ahead of the event here:  


*  *  *  *  *  *  *

The future we want, the UN we need?

The Together First coalition, the Center for Global Affairs at New York University and the Group of Women Leaders are hosting this online dialogue that examines the role the UN can play at a time when international cooperation is needed more than ever, but multilateral institutions are politically constrained and under-resourced. Can the UN reinvent itself after 75 years?

The event takes place 2:00 to 3:30 pm EST June 26.  Pre-registration is required here. 

Confirmed speakers:

  • H.E. María Fernanda Espinosa, President of the 73rd session of the General Assembly, former foreign minister and defence minister Ecuador, and member, Group of Women Leaders
  • Adriana Abdenur, Igarape Institute
  • Dr Ayak Chol Deng Alak, Deputy Coordinator for the South Sudan civil society forum during the negotiations of the revitalized peace agreement
  • Enyseh Teimory, Together First coalition 
  • Moderator: Anne-Marie Goetz, Clinical Professor, Center for Global Affairs, New York University

Register using this Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-future-we-want-the-un-we-need-tickets-110161562198

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

UN2020: Enhancing peace, disarmament and the role of women

This webinar on June 24 commemorates the 75th anniversary of the United Nations Charter as well as the 20th anniversary of the UN resolution on Women Peace and Security. 

The webinar follows up on Human security for public health, peace and sustainable development, an international appeal of 250 women legislators, religious leaders and civil society leaders from 50 countries. The appeal focuses on the increased importance of disarmament in a world impacted by COVID-19, and supports United Nations’ initiatives for peace and disarmament including the global ceasefire initiative and the UN Secretary-General’s Agenda for Disarmament.

The June 24 webinar features:

Presenters for the June 24 webinar from top left: Co-Chair, Ms Kehkashan Basu(World Future Council Youth Ambassador), H.E.  Izumi Nakamitsu (United Nations), H.E. Fabrizio Hochschild-Drummond (United Nations), Hon Maria Espinosa (World Future Council, President 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly), Ms Gabriela Cuevas Barron MP (President, Inter-Parliamentary Union), Baroness Sue Miller (PNND Co-President), Dr Hedy Fry MP(OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Special Rep on Gender Issues), Ms Divina Maloum (Co-winner, 2019 International Children’s Peace Prize), Ms Elizabeth Warner (Ploughshares Fund and Women’s Initiative), Rep Carol Ammons (Member Illinois State Assembly and the Women Legislators’ Lobby), H.E. Ann-Sofie Nilsson (Sweden Ambassador for Disarmament and Non-proliferation) and Ms Holly Near (singer, song-writer).

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

World Unity Week

Over 100 partner organizations have developed eight days of online programs (June 20 to 27) spotlighting such topics as: collective climate action, partnerships for peace, global governance, interfaith harmony, sustainable development, the role of business, human rights, disarmament and more. Over 200 separate online sessions are available to participants. 

World UNITY Week is a “dress-rehearsal” for an even larger-scale global celebration across Peace Weekend 2020 (September 19-21), centered on the annual UN International Day of Peace and the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (September 21). 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

2020 ACUNS Annual Meeting

Taking place over three days (June 24 – 26), the annual meeting of the Academic Council on the United Nations System is framed around the theme “UN@75: The Future of Partnership and Multilateralism.” 

Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, member of The Elders, former Prime Minister of Norway, Director-General of the World Health Organization, and Chair of the World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission), will deliver this year’s John W. Holmes Memorial Lecture on Charter Day from 2-3 pm GMT (9-10 am EST).

As an online event, registration for this year’s conference is free of charge. Participants must register to gain access to the event portal, including the three-day program. 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Stimson Report: 10 Innovations for Global Governance

The Stimson Center’s Just Security 2020 program will present its newest report, UN 2.0: Ten Innovations for Global Governance,at an event taking place as part of the ACUNS Annual Meeting, on June 26th at 10:10 am EST. Please RSVP here to receive the zoom link.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

#AllOfSociety #DigitalCooperation for #GlobalGoals

The NGO Committee on Sustainable Development – NY is collaborating on a Charter Day webinar, “Envisioning New Avenues for Engagement of Youth and Local Communities in Building a Better World.”

Please see the program poster here.

Date: 26 June, 12.00 – 2.30 PM EDT (6–8.30 PM CEST).  

Registration: https://yale.zoom.us/j/95625704388

*  *  *  *  *  *  *
HIFF@HOME

Human Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals take the spotlight for a June 26 series of short films organized by the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) and University of Hawaii. Broadcast locations include Canada, Puerto Rico and San Francisco. The festival takes place from 2:00 to 6:00 pm HST, (8:00 pm to midnight EST). To register and find out more, see the HIFF@HOME event poster.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Charter Day events organized by Konrad Adenauer Foundation

“ 75 Jahre UN – #totalglobal? // 75 years of UN – #totallyglobal?”

Kurzbeschreibung der Ziele des Events sowie der Themen der Diskussionen:

Anlässlich des 75-jährigen Jubiläums der Unterzeichnung der Charta der Vereinten Nationen am 26. Juni 1945 soll die Themenwoche der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung einen Blick auf die Errungenschaften und die aktuellen Herausforderungen der Vereinten Nationen und die über Jahrzehnte geprägte liberale, regelbasierte, multilaterale Weltordnung werfen. In vier Facebook-Live Gesprächen und einem Webinar diskutieren unsere Experten über Frieden & Sicherheit, Globale Gesundheit, multilaterale Organisationen in der COVID-19-Pandemie, den Zustand der Weltwirtschaft sowie Nachhaltigkeit und Entwicklung.

Description of the Events:

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charta on 26 June 1945, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is hosting a week of discussions on the achievements and current challenges of the multilateral system with the United Nations and its various bodies at its core. With our experts, we would like to take a look at the organisational structures of the UN and its mandate based on its Charta dedicated to maintaining international peace and security, promoting international co-operation in, among others, the economic and health fields. In four live-discussions and one webinar, all streamed on Facebook, we want to engage with citizens across Germany as well as across the globe. The discussions will take place in German.

An overview document is available and more information on the events can be found here.