{{Short description|Organisation}} {{use Australian English|date=February 2020}} {{use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox organization | image = UNAA_National.jpg{{!}}border | image_alt = UNAA Logo | caption = | map = map of Australia.png | formation = 1946 | extinction = | type = NGO | status = Association | purpose = | headquarters = Canberra | language = English | leader_title = Patron | leader_name = Governor General and Mrs Hurley | leader_title2 = National president | leader_name2 = Dr Donnell Davis | leader_name3 = | map_size = 200px | map_alt = Australia Map | map_caption = UNAA Offices | abbreviation = UNAA | location = Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin, Adelaide | region_served = Australia | num_members = | num_staff = | num_volunteers = | website = {{URL|https://www.unaa.org.au}} }}
The '''United Nations Association of Australia''' ('''UNAA''') is the official United Nations Association of 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.
==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.<ref>{{cite web | title=About us | website=UNAA Victoria | url=https://unaavictoria.org.au/about-us/unaa/ | access-date=14 November 2022}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.greeningaustralia.org.au/about-us/history |title=History of Greening Australia |access-date=2011-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220082057/http://www.greeningaustralia.org.au/about-us/history |archive-date=2011-02-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==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).<ref>[http://www.wfuna.org/site/c.rvIYIcN1JwE/b.3783485/k.8E46/Partnerships.htm WFUNA EcoSoc and UNDPI affiliation] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327192600/http://www.wfuna.org/site/c.rvIYIcN1JwE/b.3783485/k.8E46/Partnerships.htm |date=March 27, 2009 }}</ref> 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 and an Executive Team who take day to day responsibility for strategy implementation. Its national president is Dr Donnell Davis elected in November 2023. Previous Presidents included Dr Patricia Jenkings, 2023, Mario D'Elia 2019, Major General (Ret'd) Michael G. Smith {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO}} 2016, Australian Senator Russell Trood, 2012 and Australian Politician Robert Hill.
==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.<ref>[http://www.unac.org/en/news_events/un_days/international_days.asp United Nations Days, Weeks, Years Calendar] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220081248/http://www.unac.org/en/news_events/un_days/international_days.asp |date=February 20, 2011 }}</ref>
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 of volunteers.
==Awards== ==={{anchor|awards}}Media Peace Awards=== <!---redirects target this section---> 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".<ref name=end>{{cite web | title=Media Awards | website=UNAA Victoria | url=https://unaavictoria.org.au/media-awards/ | access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref> Justice Kirby referred to the award as the '''Australian Media Peace Prize''' in his address at the 1981 presentation of the prize.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.michaelkirby.com.au/images/stories/speeches/1980s/vol8/1981/280-Media_Peace_Prize_-_The_Aus_Media_Peace_Prize_1981.pdf| title=The Australian Media Peace Prize 1981| author=Michael Kirby|author-link= Michael Kirby (judge)| date= 1981| access-date=6 April 2022}}</ref> These awards, later known as the '''UNAA Media Awards''',<ref>{{cite report| url=https://www.unaa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNAA-Annual-Report-2018-19-1.pdf| page=18| title=Annual Report 2018/19| author=United Nations Association of Australia| date= 2019| access-date=6 April 2022}}</ref> or simply '''UN Day Media Awards''', are no longer being presented,<ref name=end/> with the last being the 2018 awards, presented in 2019 by SBS journalist Sarah Abo.<ref>{{cite report| url=https://www.unaa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/UNAA-Annual-Report-2019-2020-3.pdf| page=22| title=Annual Report 2019/20| author=United Nations Association of Australia| date= 2020| access-date=6 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224112936/http://unaavictoria.org.au/media-awards/|archive-date=24 December 2018|url=https://unaavictoria.org.au/media-awards/|title=UN Day Media Awards|access-date=16 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=United Nations Association of Australia: Media awards 2017 | website=TV Tonight | date=30 October 2017 | url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2017/10/united-nations-association-of-australia-media-awards-2017.html | access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Healey | first=Briana | title=The 2016 United Nations Media Peace Awards are open for entries | website=Influencing News | date=11 July 2016 | url=https://influencing.com/au/story/the-2016-united-nations-media-peace-awards-are-open-for-entries | access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| website=Mumbrella |url=https://mumbrella.com.au/events/united-nations-association-of-australia-media-peace-awards-2013| title=United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Awards 2013|access-date=15 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://alhr.org.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Media-Peace-Awards-2015-Official-Flyer.pdf|title=UNAA Media Peace Awards 2015 [flyer]|access-date=15 February 2020}}</ref>
In 1980, future Prime Minister Bob Hawke won the award.<ref>University of South Australia Library, RH248/FW1</ref>{{better source|date=December 2024}}
In 1983, the film ''Women of the Sun'' won the award.<ref>{{cite web |author=Zuk, T. |title=Australian Television: Women of the Sun |url=http://www.australiantelevision.net/womenofthesun.html |work=Australian Television Information Archive |publisher=AustralianTelevision.net |date=15 April 2002| access-date=6 April 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Women of the Sun |url=http://www.roninfilms.com.au/feature/1832369.html |website= Ronin Films |year=2009| access-date=6 April 2022 }}</ref>
Between 2000 and 2016, prizes were awarded in several categories each year, covering print, film, television, and radio, and also issues such as Indigenous affairs, the environment, women's rights, and children's rights. The list of nominees and winners over this period is available online.<ref name=prizewinners>{{cite web | title= UNAA Media Peace Awards winners and finalists (2000–2016)| url=https://unaavictoria.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Winners-and-Finalists-2000-2016-1.pdf | access-date=16 December 2024}}</ref>
Film producer Darren Dale has won a UNAA award twice,<ref name=bfaboutdd>{{cite web | title=About: Staff: Darren Dale: Managing Director /Producer | website=Blackfella Films | url=http://blackfellafilms.com.au/about/ | access-date=17 November 2021}}</ref> and was a finalist once.<ref name=prizewinners/>
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".<ref name=guardiq2>{{cite web | last=Davey | first=Melissa | title=Stan Grant's speech on racism and the Australian dream goes viral | website=the Guardian | date=24 January 2016 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jan/24/stan-grants-speech-on-racism-and-the-australian-dream-goes-viral | access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=eciq2>{{cite web| title=Stan Grant: Racism and the Australian dream | website=The Ethics Centre | date=24 January 2016 | url=https://ethics.org.au/stan-grants-speech/ | access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref>
===UN Day Honour=== <!---redirects target this section---> 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".<ref name=undaylc>{{cite web | title=Media Release | website=Landcare Australia | date=22 October 2021 | url=https://landcareaustralia.org.au/project/landcare-australia-receives-2021-united-nations-day-honour/ | access-date=3 April 2024 | archive-date=6 April 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406033028/https://landcareaustralia.org.au/project/landcare-australia-receives-2021-united-nations-day-honour/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> Recipients include: *2017: Australian Red Cross<ref name=undaylc/> *2018: Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG<ref name=undaylc/> *2019: Reconciliation Australia<ref name=undaylc/> *2020: Sam Mostyn<ref name=undaylc/><ref>{{cite report| url=https://www.unaa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/UNAA-Annual-Report-2020-2021.pdf| page=19|title= Annual Report 2020/2021| date= 2021| author=United Nations Association of Australia }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Sam Mostyn | website=Q+A |publisher= Australian Broadcasting Corporation| date=19 March 2021 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/qanda/sam-mostyn/13262130 | access-date=3 April 2024}}</ref>
===Other awards=== The United Nations Association Global Leadership Prize was awarded to Indigenous writer and activist Maureen Watson in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v1295| website=Austlit| title= United Nations Association of Australia, Global Leadership Prize}}</ref>
==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.<ref>[http://www.unaavictoria.org.au/pages/events/education-program/model-united-nations-conference.php UNAA Victoria Model UN Program]</ref>
==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|date=October 2021}}
==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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://unyouth.org.au/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=16 June 2017 |archive-date=19 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619202308/https://unyouth.org.au/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> UN Youth Australia is not a division of, or run by, the UNAA.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|https://www.unaa.org.au/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:United Nations Association Of Australia}} Category:World Federation of United Nations Associations Category:Political organisations based in Australia Category:Political organizations established in 1945