Upcoming global themes ideas Th mes et id es globaux prochains

1. Upcoming global themes & ideasThèmes et idées globaux prochains

2. 2009 International Year of Reconciliation – to highlight the necessity of reconciliation processes in societies affected by conflicts International Year of Natural Fibres – important revenue source for farmers and therefore important in poverty alleviation International Year of Astronomy International Year for Human Rights Learning (10 Dec 2008 to 10 Dec 2009) UNFCCC COP-15 & Kyoto COP-5 (7-18 December, Copenhagen) FAO’s Third World Food Summit (November, date & location tbc) 35th anniversary of the World Food Conference; & the Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition 25th anniversary of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 20th anniversary of the adoption by the UNGA of the Convention on the Rights of the Child Launch of a new UN Day 20 February 2009, World Day of Social Justice Themes with Canadian ties… 20th anniversary of the Montréal Protocol (on ozone) coming into force 10th anniversary of the Ottawa Convention (on land mines) coming into force 10th anniversary of the World Conference on Civil Society in Montréal

3. 2010 International Year of Biodiversity International Year of the Rapprochement of Cultures – the importance of mutual understanding and inter-religious dialogue Launch of the 2010-2020 UN Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification End of the 2001-2010 International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World (watch to see if it rolls into something else as several decades do) 20th anniversary of the first World Summit for Children, chaired by Brian Mulroney Not UN, but of interest to UNA-Canada Olympics and Paralympics, Vancouver (12-28 Feb & 12-21 Mar respectively) XVIII International AIDS Conference, Vienna (18-23 July)

4. 2011 International Year of Forests – their contribution to sustainable development, poverty eradication and development International Year of Chemistry (theme is « our life, our future ») – to celebrate the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind 30th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance being opened for signature Both the 10th anniversary of the UN, led by H.E. Kofi Annan, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize AND the 50th anniversary of H.E. Dag Hammaskjold’s Nobel Peace Prize Not UN, but of interest to UNA-Canada 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster

5. 2012 The UN hasn’t announced a theme(s) for an international year. However, it is the: End of the 2003-2012 United Nations Literacy Decade:  Education for All (watch to see if it rolls into something else as several decades do) 30th anniversary of opening for signature of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – signed by 117 States and two entities -the largest number of signatures ever affixed to a treaty on its first day 20th anniversary of the UN Conference on the Environment & Development (also known as the Earth Summit or the Rio Conference) 10th anniversary of the formal establishment of the International Criminal Court Not UN, but of interest to UNA-Canada Spring 2012 is the anticipated but unconfirmed opening of the new Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg (dependent upon funding being in place and construction completed) XVIIV International AIDS Conference, location & specific dates yet to be determined 15th anniversary of the Land Mines Convention (also known as the Ottawa Convention) 10th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq

6. Lists of all UN days, years and decades are available: on the UN website at: http://www.un.org/observances/ and on UNA-Canada’s website at: http://www.unac.org/en/news_events/un_days/index.asp