Over 50 years of Public Diplomacy

Since its foundation in 1956, the United Nations Association of Russia has been an international non-profit organization dedicated to building understanding of the ideals and work of the United Nations among the Russian people. It runs educational and humanitarian campaigns and promotes public initiatives at a local level. UNA-Russia positions itself as a public diplomacy tool supporting constructive Russian participation in the UN system through its various programs.

UNA-Russia succeeded in expanding the area of their activities during the years of perestroyka in Russia. Integrating of youth into UNA-Russia’s activities gained particular attention. Special UNA-Russia commissions on a wider range of issues were created. UNA-Russia offices were opened in many regions of the country.

UNA-Russia has been an active participant of major international events and projects. Preparing the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, years 1991 and 1992 saw 12 large cross-national conferences on environmental issues, sustainable development and particular regional solutions. One of these was organized by UNA-Russia. The 2002 Johannesburg Summit on sustainable development hosted the presentation of the Baykal region sustainable development project that was carried out jointly by UNA-Russia and the government of the Republic of Buryatia together with UN agencies.

UNA Russia Projects Today

Since UNA-Russia aims to educate Russians about the UN and build constituencies for it through its programs and chapter efforts, UNA-Russia has published a number of books and brochures dedicated to UN history as well as reports on UN related themes. The latest publication of interest was a collection of Russian delegations speeches to the General Assembly, prepared by the Association in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

Since 1990, jointly with Moscow State Institute of International Relation (University) the UNA annually holds the Moscow International Model United Nations program. Every spring approximately 500-800 participants arrive to Moscow from various parts of Russia, CIS and internationally, to step into the shoes of UN diplomats discussing current global affairs from their states’ point of view.

Strategically the project aims to help forward the development of civil society in Russia by drawing the attention of young people, especially students, to the actual international affairs effecting the interests of all social groups of Russia and each citizen in particular. Moreover, having discussions within the frame of Model UN helps participants understand the United Nations working principles and get an introduction into both difficulties and opportunities for international cooperation.

In the year 2004 at the opening ceremony of the Model UN, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan gave the keynote speech. Last year speakers included WFUNA President Hans Blix. The UN Under-Secretary-General for Strategic Communications and Public Information, Kiyotaka Akasaka is expected for the coming Moscow International Model United Nations that will be held from 13-17 April, 2009.

Each year, the UNA-Russia and the UNESCO department of MGIMO hold a national essay contest with the participation of thousands of school-students from all over the country. This year participants are asked to write on the matter of the UN’s role in managing the economic crisis.

The UNA-Russia hopes that the discussions provoked by these events would spread beyond its bounds and the UN agenda topics would keep engaging generations of Russians.