Dresden welcomed its first UN office in December 2012 with the opening of the United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES).  As the first UN entity in Dresden, UNU-FLORES together with the City of Dresden and support from the Regional Branch of the German Association for the United Nations (Landesverband der Deutschen Gesellschaft für die Vereinten Nationen e.V., DGVN) and Technische Universität Dresden (TUD) will be joining forces to celebrate UN Day in Dresden for the first time on the 24th and 25th of October 2014 (www.undaydresden.org ).

SPECIAL EVENT ON PEACE, DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS AT THE KULTURRATHAUS 17:00 – 20:0O
FRIDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2014 (BY INVITATION ONLY)

Welcoming and opening remarks will be made by Prof. Dr. Reza Ardakanian, Director of UNU-FLORES, Mr. Dirk Hilbert, Deputy Mayor of Dresden on behalf of the Mayor of Dresden Honourable Ms. Helma Orosz, Ms. Andrea Fischer, Saxon State Secretary from the State Ministry of Social Affairs and Consumer Protection on behalf of the Prime Minister of Saxony His Excellency Mr. Stanislaw Tillich and  Mr. Christoph Strässer, Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid from  the  German Federal Foreign Office.

The event features a keynote speech from Dr. Flavia Pansieri, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and Assistant Secretary-General, who will address the question: “Can we achieve peace and development without respect to human rights?”

A panel discussion with Dr. Flavia Pansieri, Mr. Christoph Strässer and Dr. Wolfgang Heinz (Senior Policy Adviser of the German Institute for Human Rights) will follow.

The special event on peace, development and human rights will be under the patronage of Honourable Mayor Helma Orosz and will be simultaneously interpreted.

PUBLIC EVENT AT DR.-KÜLZ-RING/SEESTRASSE 11:00 – 17:00
SATURDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2014

The community of Dresden and surrounding regions are invited to visit the fair at Dr.-Külz-Ring where there will be pavilions from UN agencies/entities such as UNU, OHCHR, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNCCD, WFP, UNHCR, UNW-DPC, UN WOMEN and others. Regional research institutions and universities as well as NGOs striving to support the mission of the UN will also be present, including DGVN, TUD, Agenda 21, IÖR and UFZ/CAWR.

The exhibitions will allow visitors to engage with organizations and receive relevant information about the work of the UN and current initiatives being undertaken around the world. In addition, there will be children’s activities held throughout the day and a model UN meeting.

UN Day commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter in 1945 and brings to light the aims and achievements of the United Nations. The 24th of October has been celebrated as UN Day worldwide since 1948 and continues to serve as a reminder of what global action can achieve. “This year again, we saw the United Nations come together on armed conflict, human rights, the environment and many other issues,” said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “We continue to show what collective action can do. We can do even more. In a world that is more connected, we must be more united. On United Nations Day, let us pledge to live up to our founding ideals and work together for peace, development and human rights.”

The Dresden-based institute of UNU-FLORES serves as a UN think tank and acts at the forefront of initiatives promoting a nexus approach to the sustainable management of environmental resources. “It is an honour for UNU-FLORES as the first UN entity in Dresden to organize the first UN Day celebration here,” said Prof. Reza Ardakanian, the Director of the institute. “We look forward to uniting with the people of Dresden and surrounding regions in supporting the work of the United Nations.” For more information about UN Day in Dresden, please visit www.undaydresden.org.

About UNU-FLORES
UNU-FLORES develops strategies to resolve pressing challenges in the area of the sustainable use and integrated management of environmental resources such as soil, water and waste. Focusing on the needs of the UN and its member states, particularly the developing countries and emerging economies, UNU-FLORES as a think tank engages in research, capacity development, advanced teaching and training as well as dissemination of knowledge. In line with UNU’s general mission to promote sustainability, UNU-FLORES also considers impacts of global change on resources management.

More Info about the Organizers of this Event:
UNU-FLORES: flores.unu.edu  
City of Dresden: www.dresden.de 
DGVN: www.dgvn-sachsen.de 
TUD: tu-dresden.de 

List of Partners:
CAWR    Center for Advanced Water Research
DGVN    Landesverband der Deutschen Gesellschaft für die Vereinten Nationen e.V.
IÖR    Leibniz-Institut für ökologische Raumentwicklung
OHCHR    Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
TUD    Technische Universität Dresden
UFZ    Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
UNCCD    United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
UNESCO        United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (German Commission for UNESCO and UNESCO Chair in International Relations)
UNHCR    United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNICEF    United Nations Children's Fund (Working Group in Dresden)
UNU-FLORES    United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources
UNW-DPC    UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development
UN WOMEN        United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (National Committee in Germany)
WFP    World Food Programme