UN News

UB Group visiting the UN for Briefings

On December 1, 2011, 22 students in the MA in Global Development and Peace at University of Bridgeport visited the United Nations in New York for a day of briefings and a tour. Briefings were given by three leading experts: Mr. Renato Mariani (Conflict Resolution), Mr. Matthias Stausberg (The Global Compact), and Mr. John Solecki (Refugees). Each expert covered a number of technical areas critical to the work of the United Nations in protecting the world’s most vulnerable people, and in pursuit of peace and development. The students were accompanied by Dr. Dave Benjamin, Associate Professor of Global Development. 

The Human Rights Students in a UN Hallway

A group of UB students in the International Human Rights course attended briefings at the United Nations in New York on Friday November 4, 2011. The briefings were coordinated by the Group Programmes Unit, and the speakers were Ms. Renata Sivacolundhu from the Human Rights Council, Mr. Adrian Morrice from Department of Humanitarian Affairs, and Dr. Jason Abrams from the International Law Department.  The briefings were: Recent Developments in the Human Rights Council, The Peacebuilding Commission, and International Law and Transitional Justice. The students were accompanied by Dr. Dave Benjamin from the International College.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (left) submits application to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

On October 31, UNESCO granted Palestine full membership with a vote of 107 for, 14 against, and 52 abstentions. UNESCO took this vote knowing full well that UNESCO might suffer financially as a result of reduced US support. The United States and Israel both oppose the UN creation of a Palestinian state, and the United States is the largest financial supporter of UNESCO. However,  United Nations Resolution 181, adopted November 29, 1947, divided British-controlled Palestine into two “independent Arab and Jewish States.” The UN is acting in accord with this resolution.

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Cuba Seeks US Trade through UN Resolution

On October 25, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling for the end to an economic embargo of Cuba. The embargo has been in effect for over 50 years, since the communist revolution in Cuba seized property owned by US and Cuban citizens, causing thousands of Cuban leaders to flee to the US. There is still a strong anti-Castro lobby among those emigrants in Florida seeking redress.

The Resolution, adopted with 186 votes for and 2 against (the US and Israel) called for free trade and navigation. While speakers denounced the embargo as “a Cold-War toll of coercion,” the General Assembly itself has previously asked for embargoes (e.g. GA Resolution 1761 in response to racist policies in South Africa). This is the 20th time such a resolution has been passed.
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