2014/10/27     Dresden, Germany

Dr. Flavia Pansieri, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights delivers he keynote speech (Image: Stephan Floss)

The first UN Day celebration in Dresden commenced on Friday evening with over 200 guests in attendance, including officials from the federal, state and city levels, professors, researchers and students.  Guests were welcomed with remarks by Mr. Dirk Hilbert, Deputy Mayor of Dresden, Prof. Reza Ardakanian, Director of UNU-FLORES, Andrea Fischer, State Secretary of the Free State of Saxony, and Mr. Christoph Strässer, Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid from the German Federal Foreign Office.  Dr. Flavia Pansieri then delivered a keynote speech on the theme ‘Peace, Development and Human Rights’ in which she reinforced the importance of human rights in achieving both development and peace. “By protecting human rights, and empowering individuals and communities, we can advance true development,” she declared. “Development cannot be achieved, and sustained, without peace; peace cannot be achieved, and sustained, without justice; and justice, development and sustained peace are fundamentally grounded in respect for human rights.”  The evening closed with a panel discussion between Dr. Flavia Pansieri, Christoph Strässer and Dr. Wolfgang Heinz (Senior Policy Advisor at the German Institute for Human Rights), which was moderated by Kai Ahlborn (President of the Regional Branch of DGVN). The discussion offered guests greater insight into current issues facing human rights as well as examples of how policies and research have protected human rights.

UNU-FLORES Director Reza Ardakanian welcoming remarks at UN Day 2014 (Credit: Trey Monts/UNU-FLORES)

The first UN Day celebration in Dresden commenced on Friday evening with over 200 guests in attendance, including officials from the federal, state and city levels, professors, researchers and students.  Guests were welcomed with remarks by Mr. Dirk Hilbert, Deputy Mayor of Dresden, Prof. Reza Ardakanian, Director of UNU-FLORES, Andrea Fischer, State Secretary of the Free State of Saxony, and Mr. Christoph Strässer, Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid from the German Federal Foreign Office.  Dr. Flavia Pansieri then delivered a keynote speech on the theme ‘Peace, Development and Human Rights’ in which she reinforced the importance of human rights in achieving both development and peace. “By protecting human rights, and empowering individuals and communities, we can advance true development,” she declared. “Development cannot be achieved, and sustained, without peace; peace cannot be achieved, and sustained, without justice; and justice, development and sustained peace are fundamentally grounded in respect for human rights.”  The evening closed with a panel discussion between Dr. Flavia Pansieri, Christoph Strässer and Dr. Wolfgang Heinz (Senior Policy Advisor at the German Institute for Human Rights), which was moderated by Kai Ahlborn (President of the Regional Branch of DGVN). The discussion offered guests greater insight into current issues facing human rights as well as examples of how policies and research have protected human rights.

UN Day Dresden 2014 Panel Discussion. (Image: Stephan Floss)

The following day hundreds of visitors attended the UN Day exhibition set up at Dr.-Külz-Ring where UN agencies, including UNU, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNCCD, UNHCR, WFP, OHCHR, ILO, UNW-DPC and UN Women, actively engaged with the public and provided information about the work and mission of the UN as well as ongoing initiatives being undertaken around the world.  A photo gallery displayed numerous photos of the UN around the world, UNU and UNU-FLORES, and UNICEF.  Also featured at the exhibition were booths from TUD, IOER, UFZ, DGVN and Agenda 21. The all-day event was accompanied with live music, a model UN meeting, and educational and prize-winning games for children.

Visitors to UN Day Dresden 2014 watch a Model United Nations Simulation (Image: Stephan Floss)

H.E. State Minister for Higher Education, Research and the Arts, Prof. Dr. Sabine von Schorlemer, and United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Dr. Flavia Pansieri, also visited the exhibition on Saturday. Both commended the organization of the event and its opportunity to strengthen the UN’s presence in the region.

UN Day has been celebrated on 24 October worldwide since 1948, and continues to serve as a reminder of what global action can achieve. “I would like to thank everyone who has helped make this celebration, for the first time in Dresden, a reality,” said Prof. Reza Ardakanian, the Director of UNU-FLORES.  “We were very pleased with the participation and interest of the community, and to be united in celebrating and supporting the work of the United Nations.”

For more information about the work and research of UNU-FLORES, please visit flores.unu.edu.

More photos of the UN Day celebration can be found at:

• UN Day 1 – https://flic.kr/s/aHsk5KtkJw 
• UN Day 2 – https://flic.kr/s/aHsk596YJL

Should you wish to reuse these photos, please pay attention to the following credit:

Photos named “unu_flores_unday_xx” should be credited to Mr. Stephan Floss
Photos named “IMG_xxx” should be credited to Mr. Benjamin Zhu
Photos named “DSC_xxx” should be credited to Mr. Trey Monts
Other photo names should be credited to UNU-FLORES