A UN Resident Coordinator blog — Global Issues

“This Expo is completely different from different Expos within the sense that the UAE authorities determined to make use of it to specific the significance of worldwide collaboration, and constructing a greater, sustainable future. So, the theme matches straight with the UN’s principal mandate and pursuits. It’s additionally the most important, with almost the entire world’s nations represented.

Anchored in Expo

The UN Hub kinds a part of one of many anchor pavilions, known as Alternative Pavilion Mission Attainable, which stresses the significance of particular person motion in direction of attaining the Sustainable Growth Targets (SDGs).

There’s a massive UN Hub signal outdoors, so everybody is aware of that that is for all the various completely different elements of the group, and we have now outfitted the area to convey the messages of the UN to Expo, presently with a photograph exhibition representing folks from all over the world.

It’s a versatile area, permitting us to point out movies, set up panel discussions and exhibitions. The picture exhibition on show is from the UN Inhabitants Fund (UNFPA), which is concerning the significance of understanding the challenges girls face in all elements of the world, particularly in disaster conditions.

We have now had different displays right here, equivalent to an SDG artwork exhibit to assist the general public perceive how the Targets translate to the United Arab Emirates, and one other to rejoice the fiftieth anniversary of the nation’s founding and the UN’s partnership with the nation over these years.

A possibility to attach

It’s a fantastic alternative for the United Nations to be on this venue, the place we will attain so many individuals, in a rustic with a inhabitants made up of some 200 nationalities, and a preferred worldwide vacationer hub.

 What I’ve discovered, in my private engagements, in addition to these of my colleagues, is that many individuals have preconceived concepts concerning the UN, and what it does, so we wish to guarantee that we will promote the important thing messages of the Group.

Within the first seven weeks or so, I’d say that some 20,000 folks have visited the Hub. Some come for 10 minutes or so, however others wish to keep longer and have a extra in-depth dialogue about what we do.

We have now additionally had many interactions with Member States at numerous completely different ranges, as a result of parliamentary and authorities delegations are coming to Dubai for their very own engagements at Expo.

That is the primary time for the reason that pandemic that so many individuals are coming collectively from all all over the world to debate points associated to sustainability, and constructing a greater future. And the message I’m getting, from dignitaries and strange folks, is that they know the UN is right here, they wish to go to us, and so they wish to discover out what we will do, collectively, to create that future.”