UNRIC

The United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe ( UNRIC ) based in Brussels is the central information office of the UN in Western Europe. In Germany, there is a UNRIC Liaison Office in Bonn.

The main tasks of UNRIC are to provide information about the work of the United Nations to raise public awareness of UN - related issues and promote public dialogue. UNRIC published in Western Europe information, reports, press kits and official documents. The library is open to the public and answers queries by telephone and email. UN documents and publications are available in English, French and Spanish.

The UNRIC website can be accessed in Danish, German, English, Finnish, French, Greek, Icelandic, Italian, Dutch / Flemish, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish. UNRIC works closely with governments, the media, NGOs, educational institutions and government agencies. This information center is responsible for the organization of projects and campaigns in the press and public relations.

Regional responsibility

Since 1 January 2004, the United Nations Regional Information Centre in Brussels, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, the Holy See, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Cyprus in charge.

UNRIC also works in the field of press and public relations with the institutions of the European Union together.

Task fields

UNRIC supports the work of the UN system and the locally based UN agencies. The main tasks include the initiation of information campaigns, the dissemination of information and the publication of statements by the Secretary-General and other UN representatives.

In addition UNRIC is responsible for the organization of interviews, press conferences and seminars. Another field of activity is UNRIC media monitoring and cooperation with civil society partners at national and regional level.

UNRIC Library

The reference library contains UN documents and publications in English, French and Spanish. In addition, background information on UN - specific topics and general information for the United Nations to be offered jobs. The library is open to the public.

Campaigns and projects

Cool Planet 2009

Cool Planet 2009 is a Europe- United Nations Information campaign on climate change. You should in Europe arouse interest in the topic of climate protection, particularly with regard to the upcoming climate conference in December 2009 in Copenhagen. The campaign was launched by the Icelandic Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir on 26 January 2006. It was suggested during the project Globalisation Forum in Iceland from the five Nordic prime ministers.

Cool Planet 2009 works with "Cool Friends and Partners " together, such as the environmentalist Yann Arthus- Bertrand, which was founded by the Icelandic singer Björk NGO Nattura and the three presidents of the " Road to Copenhagen " Margot Wallström, Vice- President of the European Commission, Gro Harlem Brundtland, former UN special envoy for climate change, and Mary Robinson, UN Commissioner for Human Rights.

The European campaign Cool Planet 2009 is part of the UN Seal the Deal campaign. In cooperation with the Belgian designer Jean -Paul Knott Cool Planet 2009 supports the global UN initiative with the concept of "Wear Seal the Deal ".

Seal the Deal 2009

The global UN campaign Seal the Deal wants to move governments to reach an agreement at the climate conference in Copenhagen. From 7 to 18 December 2009 are to be negotiated in the Danish capital on a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol. The campaign was launched on World Environment Day, June 5 to life.

The Seal the Deal campaign is designed to draw the public's attention increasingly on climate change. The aim is to persuade the governments of the world generated public pressure to conclude a new global climate change agreement. The voice of the public is documented with an online petition that will be submitted to the politicians. The petition calls for the conclusion of a climate agreement in Copenhagen.

Human Rights Education

The UNRIC campaign Human Rights Education was launched on the occasion of the International Year of Human Rights Learning, 2009. The online campaign website is a place for exchange of ideas by students and teachers. You have access to information, to share experiences and receive information, for example, who to contact and links.

Cartooning for Peace

The concept of Cartooning for Peace campaign was designed by the French cartoonist Plantu. On 16 October 2006, the action at UN headquarters in New York was launched. Twelve political cartoonist attended the two-day conference to take up the fight against intolerance. The opening program was accompanied by an exhibition.

Development Policy Forum

The Development Policy Forum (DPF ) is an association between the Brussels-based think tank " Friends of Europe ", the World Bank, the United Nations, the Agence Française de Dévelopement ( AFD ), the British Department for International Development ( DFID) and the German Society for technical Cooperation ( GTZ). The Forum is also supported by the Friedrich -Ebert -Stiftung (FES ), the International Monetary Fund ( IMF) and cooperation with the European Commission Directorate General for Development and Relations with ACP countries. The aim of cooperation is to respond through debate and analyzes systematically to upcoming challenges for development policy.

The objectives of the DPF also include:

• To increase the public's interest in development issues.
• To promote discussions on current political, economic and social issues.
• Policy-makers, members of national, international and European development institutions, journalists and people in the industry to bring together to discuss development issues.

UNRIC Magazine

The UNRIC magazine published events and the United Nations activities in Western Europe. In addition, it comments and articles senior UN officials, the interview of the month, background information on current UN initiatives, articles of UNRIC employees, appointments and reports are published. The magazine is published monthly.