22 December 2024, Hiroshima, Japan – Eight Hiroshima Youth Ambassadors took their first steps as next-generation leaders aiming to abolish nuclear weapons and realize lasting peace as they completed the 2024 United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Hiroshima Youth Ambassador Programme. The Youth Ambassadors presented their action plans for peace at the closing ceremony, held on 22 December 2024 in Hiroshima City.

The grandeur of Carnegie Hall set the stage for around 2,000 attendees last December 17, for an inspiring evening dedicated to peace, sustainable development, and human dignity. The concert titled “Leaving No One Behind: Acting Together for the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development, and Human Dignity for Present and Future Generation,” was held In Celebration of the Work of the 79th United Nations General Assembly and President H.E. Mr. Philemon Yang. Presented by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office (NYO) in collaboration with the International Academy for Arts and Cultural Studies, the event underscored the transformative power of culture and music in fostering global solidarity.

The Global Diplomacy Initiative (GDI) had its Closing Ceremony at the United Nations Headquarters for the Fall 2024 cohort. Hosted by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office (NYO), the event honored the 14 fellows who completed the rigorous program designed to deepen their understanding of the United Nations and global diplomacy.

19 December 2024, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – UNITAR successfully concluded the XXI Annual Steering Committee of the CIFAL Global Network, which took place from 10th to 12th December 2024 in Al Majmaah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Co organized by CIFAL Saudi Arabia and Majmaah University, the event brought together representatives from over 30 countries to review the network’s achievements in 2024 and outline priorities for 2025.

17 December 2024, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - On the 9th December 2024, the launch of the “Expert in Human Rights Programme” took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This special event was attended by several local and international officials, most of whom are engaged in human rights issues.

16 December 2024, New York, USA - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Michelle Gyles-McDonnough of Jamaica as the new Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). She will officially assume her duties on 1 February 2025, succeeding Nikhil Seth of India, to whom the Secretary-General expressed profound gratitude for his dedication and contributions to the United Nations.

Until 08 October 2024, Poland had received 981,335 refugees[1] from Ukraine fleeing the war in the country, most of whom are women and children (UNHCR, 2024a, 2024b). Efforts to assist refugees’ economic integration are underway, including job training and language classes, with support from international and local organizations (UNHCR, 2024b). As part of these efforts, the UNITAR Division for Prosperity, with financial support from the Government and the People of Japan, organized the programme “Emergency assistance for Ukrainian women refugees in Poland with digital 4IR training: Bolstering livelihoods” between October 2023 and March 2024. 
The programme targeted Ukrainian women refugees in Poland and aimed at enhancing their employability by providing them the opportunity to acquire new digital skills for the modern job market that either reinforced their previous professional experience to adapt to their new environment or opened ways for exploring new career paths. The programme intended to develop IT and entrepreneurial skills and mindsets to bolster participants’ livelihoods, with emphasis on refugees with more disadvantaged backgrounds. 
Five hundred women out of 1,000 applicants were selected to take part in the programme, seventy-five per cent of whom are between 30 and 46 years old. Participants have diverse professional backgrounds as illustrated in Figure 1. It is also worth noting that eighty per cent of them hold a high educational degree including a bachelor’s, master’s and even PhD. 
[1] The Ukrainian Embassies in Poland and Japan prefer to use the term “evacuees” instead of “refugees” in specific contexts.

During the 50th Financial Action Task Force of Latin America (GAFILAT) Working Groups and Plenary Meetings, UNITAR and UIAF presented the AML/CFT/CFP initiative to more than 100 delegates from 18 GAFILAT member states and observers. This innovative project holds the potential to serve as a model for other countries.

11 December 2024, Geneva, Switwerland - The Global Surgery Foundation and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) are pleased to announce the launch of "Navigating the Global Surgery Ecosystem", an educational series hosted on SURGhub. This series is designed to equip healthcare professionals with the essential skills and knowledge to engage effectively in the complex and evolving global surgery landscape. By addressing the unique challenges of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the series empowers participants to drive meaningful, lasting change in their local and global communities.

11 December 2024 – The 2024 Youth Ambassador Asia-Pacific Programme concluded on 30 November 2024 with participants showcasing their creative proposals for projects that address local issues and create global impact. Guided by UNITAR and partner ITS Education Asia, 26 young changemakers from Afghanistan, Hong Kong, India, Japan and the Philippines completed the 8-week training programme.