Tickets are now available for Think Global, Link Local 2019! This is a Networking Breakfast, hosted by the United Nations Association of Canada – Vancouver Branch. Students and recent graduates will get the opportunity to meet and learn from professionals in local charities, non-profit and civil society organizations. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to build connections and get to know some of these amazing organizations!
GRAB YOUR TICKETS HERE
On December 10th, 2018, UNAC-Vancouver and Community Legal Assistance Society hosted the annual celebration to commemorate the Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the presentation of the Renate Shearer Award.
This year the Renate Shearer Award was made to Chief Dr. Robert Joseph in recognition of his outstanding achievement in promoting respect for the human rights of Indigenous People in Canada and for his ongoing efforts towards reconciliation based on truth and healing.
The views expressed by the authors on this page reflect their personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of UNA Canada.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights celebrates its 70th birthday today, having been adopted as Resolution 217 by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10th in 1948. The primary goal of this ground-breaking document is to help prevent a repetition of the atrocities that occurred during World War Two. The committee assembled to develop this document was chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt and the first draft was written by the first Director of the United Nations Division of Human Rights, Canadian legal scholar and jurist John Humphrey. The Declaration grants all humans certain inalienable rights and promotes justice and human dignity. More specifically, it declares that all humans are equal regardless of their race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinions, national or social origin, property or birth. The Declaration has been translated into 512 languages, making it the most-translated document in the world.
The United Nations Association in Canada – Vancouver Branch and the Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS) are pleased to announce a Celebration to Commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Date: Monday, December 10, 2018
Location: Law Courts Inn Restaurant (4thFloor)
Address: 800 Smithe Street, Vancouver BC
Time: 5:30pm to 8pm
Admission by Donation. Hors-d’oeuvres, no-host bar and live music available.
This 30th Anniversary presentation of the Renate Shearer Award will be made to:
Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, OC, OBC in recognition of his outstanding achievements and transformative role in reconciliation work in British Columbia and in Canada.
As an Elder Witness to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, his energy has gone towards achieving reconciliation and shifting the national consciousness to ultimately create harmony and a oneness between Canadians. Calls to Action 42 to 44 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission underline the need to utilize the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a framework for a path forward to full reconciliation.
Each year, the Renate Shearer Award is presented to a person or organization who has made an outstanding contribution in the field of human rights. This award is a memorial to the life and work of Renate Shearer who was a champion of equality and dignity for all.
“ The views expressed by the authors on this page reflect their personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of UNA Canada.”
On November 29th the UN will once again be celebrating the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The day was mandated by UN General Assembly Resolution 32/40 B of 1977. Since the UN was founded in 1945 – with the express aim of reducing or eliminating conflicts around the world – the Palestinian conflict, starting with the founding of Israel in 1948 has been one of the longest-lasting and most intractable conflicts which the UN has ever had to deal with. Much discussion and debate have taken place at the UN Security Council and General Assembly over the years and yet the Palestine matter is one of the issues about which the UN has been unable to reach an agreement since 1948.
On Wednesday, November 21st at 7pm the Vancouver Branch of the UN Association in Canada partnered with the Burnaby School District to host Dr. Joanna Ashworth and screen her documentary to an audience of UNAC-V members, and Burnaby students and parents. UNAC-V co-Vice President Jessica Steele provided opening remarks which can be read, in part, below.
We are honoured to have Dr. Joanna Ashworth, the filmmaker, joining us tonight for post film comments and a Q and A after the screening. We are gathered here on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples including the Squamish, the Musquem and the Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Indigenous Peoples have been taking care of this place since time out of mind and it is our responsibility as settlers, immigrants and new comers to Canada to continue to take care of these lands and waters.
You are invited to attend a free film event offered by the UN Association in Canada (UNAC-V) in partnership with the Burnaby School District. On Wednesday, November 21st from 6:45 pm to 9 pm, Dr. Joanna Ashworth will be in attendance at the screening of her recent documentary, “Women Bending the Curve on Climate Change” which will take place in the Centre for Dialogue in Byrne Creek Community School – 7777 – 18th Street in Burnaby.
